Random
steroid testing aimed at high school athletes in state
tournaments starting next fall
Wednesday, December 21, 2005 •
KASI ADDISON • Star-Ledger Staff
New Jersey will become the first state in
the nation to test its high school athletes for steroid use,
acting Gov. Richard Codey announced yesterday.
The plan, which will take effect in the
fall of 2006, calls for the random testing of athletes whose
teams qualify for their respective sport's state
tournaments. It would affect roughly 10,000 athletes next
fall.
"As a parent, and coach, this isn't an
issue we can ignore," Codey said during a press conference
at Seton Hall Prep in West Orange. "We don't have the luxury
to put this off or leave it for someone else to deal
with."
The executive order, which is likely to
be challenged by civil liberties groups, applies to steroid
use, not illegal drugs.
Codey estimated the program would cost
$50,000 during the first year and would be funded out of the
state's budget. Future funding shouldn't be a problem, he
said, but didn't provide any specific sources.
Of the thousands of student-athletes to
compete in championship games next year, about 500 will be
subject to the random tests, which cost about $100 each,
said Bob Baly, assistant director of the New Jersey State
Interscholastic Athletic Association, which will oversee the
program.
The actual testing of the athletes will
be done by consultants, with results taking anywhere from
one to 21 days. Positive tests could result in year-long
suspensions for the athletes, although, as of now, the teams
would not be punished.
"Ultimately, the goal is to create a
natural deterrent and to root out steroid abuse," Codey
said.
In addition to the testing, the executive
order gives the NJSIAA and the state Department of Education
authority to craft a comprehensive anti-steroid program that
could include public service announcements, training for
coaches and educational seminars for youngsters.
It also gives the state Department of
Health and Senior Services power to randomly test products
sold in the state to see if they contain steroids. The
reasoning, according to Codey, is high school athletes
purchase dietary supplements, some that make claims of
improved performance, and he wants to make sure there are no
steroids in these products.
Citing a study by the National Institute
on Drug Abuse that found 3.4 percent of high school seniors
admitted using anabolic steroids at least once, Codey
created a task force in July to study the scope of the
problem in the Garden State. The group spoke to experts,
interviewed high school students and held a statewide
education summit and public hearings.
About 13 percent of the nation's high
schools already do some kind of steroid testing. In New
Jersey, 15 schools already test or will begin by
2006.
But the new plan is unique. It is the
first time a state association is involved in running a
random drug testing program at their championships, said
Bruce Howard of the National Federation of State High School
Associations, the parent body of state high school athletic
associations, based in Indianapolis.
"We are talking about performance
enhancing, and that is where we have to come in," Baly said.
"First is the health and safety and second is we have to
make sure we have a level playing field."
Because non-athletes are just as
important, Codey said, if the program is successful it could
be rolled out "across the board in every school in the state
of New Jersey in three to four years time."
The announcement drew criticism from
civil liberties groups.
"Parents should decide if their child
should be tested for steroids, not the government," said
Deborah Jacobs, of the New Jersey American Civil Liberties
Union.
"If you have to have testing, have it
based on suspicion," she said, adding drug testing has never
proven to be a deterrent for drug use. "You might deter good
kids from participating because they don't want to be
treated like that."
But for now it is unclear exactly what
the program will look like. The agencies have a year to
produce a finalized plan to the Governor and
Legislature.
Things need to be clarified and plans
drawn up, Baly said.
"We are going to hit the ground running
in January," he said. "We have to come up with penalties and
a plan."
Gary Wallace, a guard on Seton Hall
Prep's basketball team, said he thought the random testing
was a good idea.
"I don't see any harm. If you aren't
doing anything you shouldn't have a problem with it," he
said. "You work hard from the start and improve yourself
that way. Just get better and better."
Kasi Addison may be reached at (973) 392-4154 or at
kaddison@starledger.com.
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