May 06 2009
Lawmakers May End School Steroid Test
Texas lawmakers are skeptical on continuing to spend $3 million each year to test high school students for steroid use and are considering of abolishing the program or at least scaling it back. This is according to Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Van, House sponsor of the steroid-testing legislation. The Legislature approved it in the 2007 session.
Flynn suggested to the recently named budget conference committee to lessen the program’s funding for the next biennium after sensing a loss of enthusiasm for the program among his colleagues. Though he would not disclose the exact figure, other lawmakers and the Senate’s author expected the budget to be cut in half.
“I told (the budget conferees) that I would support cutting back a little bit and just concentrate on those events, strength events where young people do weightlifting, football, track and those events where the steroids have been used,” Flynn said. The thing we’ve said since day one is that this is a fairness and a health issue and I think it has served its purpose of deterring young people.”
Flynn also added that because of the widespread media coverage and the educational programs included in the funding, coaches and athlete’s parents are more aware of the damage inflicted by steroids to their sons and daughters.
The A&M study in Texas also revealed that over 50,000 young people said that they have used steroids. The steroid testing program of the state is currently the largest in the world. And almost 4,000 athletes are randomly tested in the international Olympic Games.
The University Interscholastic League, which administers the athletic programs of the state, said that athletes who tested positive the first time gets a 30-day suspension from all sports. If a student tests positive the second time, he or she will no longer participate in athletic programs for a year. Third offense means a permanent ban.
The steroid testing program started in February 2007. Nearly after six months after the start of the program, only 11 Texas high school students tested positive for steroid use out of nearly 30,000 students tested. All students who tested positive were all male athletes and are involved in wrestling or football.
Though the House wants to abolish the program, the Senate and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, the main supporter of the random testing program for steroids, want to maintain the program.
“Clearly, our state’s mandatory, random testing program is working as a strong deterrent to keep our young people from using illegal steroids,” Dewhurst said. “I’m open to discussing adjustments to the program, but if any changes are made, they must not reduce the deterrent level we have established to protect the health and lives of young Texans.”
House and Senate budget negotiators will decide in the forthcoming weeks whether steroid testing among high school students continues, and its scope and pace. A scaled-down program is also feasible. This program is where random tests for steroid use are given to students who are engaged in football, track, weightlifting, wrestling, and other sports in which steroid abuse is rampant.
[...] country. In negotiating the 2010-2011 budget, House and Senate members worked out a deal to cut the steroid testing budget as it was found to be inefficient, costly and unjustified considering the recent economic [...]