The steroid scandal in Canadian football does not end in the suspension of several University of Waterloo football players. Of the 13 players who failed the steroid tests, 4 of them publicly admitted to taking anabolic steroids. The top officials of the UW decided to suspend the football program of the university for this season while an internal investigation is being conducted.

For some people who still believe that the use of performance enhancing drugs in football is still an isolated case, they were wrong. The CIS announced last week that three more university football players failed the steroids tests conducted in the off-season. University of Windsor Lancers linebacker Christopher Deneau tested positive for Methyl-1-testosterone. Nova Scotia’s Acadia University linebacker Taylor Shadgett tested positive for stanozolol. He already admitted to taking Winstrol. The name of another player is still being withheld by CIS officials.

The University of Windsor athletics director was appalled on the involvement of one of their athletes. “This is the first time a University of Windsor athlete has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. We have a zero-tolerance policy and are fully supportive of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program,” said director Gord Grace. The athletic director also said that they require players to take an online anti-doping course and there is no exception in the implementation of the zero-tolerance policy.

The CIS chief executive Marg McGregor was very disappointed on the recent result of steroid testing because if shows that doping in CIS football is not an isolated occurrence. “We have significant work to do to address the problem in a systematic and comprehensive manner and to protect the integrity and positive values of university football,” said McGregor.

The new positive tests prompted the CIS to introduce new anti-doping measures. They also directed the Centre for Ethics in Sport to increase the number of tests for performance enhancing drugs particularly in off-season. “By increasing testing by 15 per cent, that means 10 guys in each locker room will be tested each year,” said McGregor. They will be conducting the test randomly, unannounced, and out of competition. “You’re rolling the dice at that point if you think you can dope and not get caught.”

Other initiatives will also commence immediately to address the doping problem in Canadian football. An anti-doping symposium on Nov. 26 will be held at the University of Laval in Quebec City when the Vanier Cup starts. A task force will be created to investigate the extent of steroids use in football and what particular substances are being used. There is also a possibility that universities will be required to set aside steroid testing fund to pay for extra urinalysis and blood tests.

The Canadian Football League has also offered help. The CFL will be implementing a more comprehensive drug testing policy next season to address concerns that they have a lax anti-doping program. Since the CFL is the destination of the university football players, it is but right to help the CIS to curtail steroid use in the sport. The drug testing of the 80 CIS football prospects each year will be shouldered by the league which will cost at least $500. They will also launched anti-doping education programs focused on the minor-league and collegiate players.

Bisons football head coach Brian Dobie told the Winnipeg Free Press that the effort of the CFL is fantastic. “I’m extremely impressed with the CFL coming on board to help deter this and be part of the educational process,” said Dobie. “I feel that student-athletes who are more prone to substance abuse are student-athletes who are in the latter stages of the program and hoping and anticipating a shot at professional football,” he added.

Windsor Lancers linebacker Christopher Deneau and Acadia Taylor Shadgett both received 2-year suspension. UW Matt Peto, Eric Polini and Joe Surgenor (also used Winstrol) admitted to taking steroids even before the mandatory test. Jordan Meredith tested positive for Tamoxifen, a drug used to mitigate the effects of using steroids. Other names are still withheld pending their appeal.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS