High school ADs, coaches support drug-testing law

High school coaches' and athletic directors' opinions on Gov. Pat Quinn's signing of legislation Friday requiring high school athletes throughout the state to be tested for performance enhancing drugs was largely positive, despite lingering concerns about its implementation.

"Steroids are right up there with drugs and alcohol," McHenry District 156 Athletic Director Drew Potthoff said. "There's no better way to say 'no' than 'my coach is going to find out.' This puts some teeth in it."

Under the new law, the Illinois High School Association can expand its random testing of athletes in public and private high schools beyond the playoffs to the regular season.

At least 1,000 students will be tested next year, up from the 700 tested by the IHSA during this past year.

The testing, according to the law, will be overseen by the Illinois Department of Public Health and must be done in a quarter of all high schools in the state.

Parents must sign a statement acknowledging that they are aware of the testing; that they understand performance enhancing drugs are illegal outside of medical purposes; and that if their children are caught they could face jail time.

And coaches must complete an educational program on the prevention and abuse of performance enhancing drugs.

Money for the testing will come from adding an extra $50 fine to drug offenses in the state.

Previously, the IHSA has paid for the testing on its own.

The bill was passed by both houses this spring, and has sat on the governor's desk for the past two months.

IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman said Friday that the law will put the association on a faster track to expand the testing.

"We'll actually through this bill conduct the program in a manner that we were headed to anyway. More random, throughout the year."

Of the 700 tested this past school year, Hickman said only 10 came back positive for steroid use. All 10 of those received medical exceptions for steroid use, he said.

The IHSA, he said, is "basically ready" to begin testing under the new regulations. Still, he conceded, it will take some time to understand the new rules and procedures. The IHSA will have to work closely with the state health department, which will oversee the testing.

"I think the biggest challenge (will be) putting the program together. When we were just doing this by ourselves, obviously we were in control and had a little more autonomy. Not that this is problematic, but it will be different," he said.

Colleen Connell, executive director of American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, said the organization opposes the move on the basis that the testing is not an effective deterrent and could drive students away from participating in extracurricular activities.

St. Viator High School Athletic Director Tim Carlson said he supports the move, but in the same breath also rattled off a list of questions: "What's the formula by which students are picked? What times will this be done? Is this something where somebody just shows up and tests kids, or are we notified in advance?"

Since 2007, the Arlington Heights school has paid to randomly drug test all of its students, though not for steroids.

Because the performance-enhancing drug testing is still so new, Carlson said, "we don't really have a track record to go on to say it will serve as a deterrent in the future."

The law will expire in 2011.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=312283">Huntley High might start drug testing in spring <span class="date">[08/07/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>