Steroid testing providing few violators

AUSTIN (AP) - Round number two of massive high school steroid testing results have state lawmakers talking about scaling back the program at public schools in Texas. Friday, the University Interscholastic League reported that seven student-athletes tested positive for steroids between September 2008 and December 2008. Ten student tests are unresolved. High testosterone levels were discovered, and will require further investigation before a final decision can be reached.

 

Twice as many male athletes were tested than females. More football and male soccer players were tested than any other spot. The initial round of testing last spring found only four cases of steroid use in 10,000 athletes.

"It appears that the problem of steroid use is not as bad as we feared that it might be," said State Representative Valinda Bolton.

The democrat whose district includes Lake Travis ISD, 4A football state champ title holders, sees the benefit in the testing, but is also concerned with the price tag. The legislature set aside $6 million dollars for the two-year program.

"It is a very expensive program," said Bolton. "If these results hold up and there aren't many kids using steroids, then maybe we could look at using some of those dollars in other education-related arenas."

Republican Dan Flynn helped author the original bill, and said the low numbers show the program has worked and raised awareness of steroid use.

"I'd be heart broken if we end up with 10,000 kids using steroids, or 5,000 or 1,000 or 100 when we've spent all this time and effort to try to create the deterrent that we have created," said Flynn.

Now that the state has seen the low results, Flynn said scaling back and spending less than half as much money testing fewer students would be a good idea.

"If it keeps kids from using it, it may be money well spent," said Jack Ball, whose daughter, Kayla, is a varsity basketball player at Westlake High School. Ball said the low numbers are a good sign that the problem is not widespread.

Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, who also helped author the bill, released this statement:

"From day one I knew just launching the mandatory, random steroid testing of high school athletes would serve as a deterrent, and it has, deterring our young people from putting their lives at risk or wrecking their bodies through the use of illegal steroids. The state has just recently completed its first full year of testing so it is too early to determine what, if any adjustments should be made to the program, but as with any important initiative like this, I am always looking for ways to make improvements."

The legislature is expected to take up the issue by the end of the school year.

 

 

 

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