The problem of steroid use by student athletes in some Canadian Universities puts the country in a bad limelight. Most sports officials still treat this as an isolated case. However, the news about the high number of steroid users in the University of Waterloo had incited the interest of international media. Of course, who would not cover news about the first HGH positive in North America? This is now a national concern that must be addressed not only by the university but also by the national sporting bodies tasked to oversee the implementation of anti-doping policies.

The CCES and CIS knows that there is really a problem in curtailing the use of performance enhancing drugs in Canadian universities. Student athletes who want to be drafted in the pro are tempted to take the shortcut through the help of anabolic steroids. Steroids are known for its muscle enhancing effects and could give them extra strength and stamina. These are the qualities needed by a professional athlete especially in football.

The announcement of the CCES of the complete names of football players who failed the mandatory drug testing conducted at the University of Waterloo football team shocked some of its alumni. The impact of the steroid controversy haunting the university is now affecting even its former student athletes. In the article published by the Toronto Sun, Laurier Rams’ coach John Kublinskas expressed his disgust on the result of the steroid tests. “I’m a Waterloo grad, so it hits home. It’s definitely a shame. I’m shocked by the whole situation and I’m shocked by who is involved. I know the time, work and energy a lot of people put into that program,” said Coach Kublinskas.

The coach agrees that athletes dreaming to be part of the CFL might try steroids to increase their chances. “I can see where the temptation may be for those guys in their fourth or fifth years who think they have a chance at the CFL and see the league doesn’t test. But then they get cut, come back (to the university program) and get caught,” the coach said. The problem should not be blamed on the students alone but authorities should also look into the sports program of the university. There could be a problem somewhere. “But this was all the way through the (Waterloo) program. The numbers were crazy. Some guys were starters, some weren’t,” said Kublinskas.

Coach Kublinskas was also surprised about the involvement of Spencer Zimmerman-Cryer in the steroid controversy. Zimmerman-Cryer was a star player in the Rams offensive lineup but the coach admitted that the football player is a little bit undersized for college football. “I don’t know if that was the temptation for him, but the thing was it was always about technique for him. That was his advantage in high school,” he said. Former coach of Zimmerman-Cryer in the London Falcons also told the media that there was no indication that the player already used steroids during his high school years. Falcons president and varsity head coach Mike Esposito said that it might have been something he got into after leaving their school. Zimmerman-Cryer admitted to taking the steroid Oral Turinabol.

Those athletes involve in the controversy will always be tagged as a cheater and steroid user. “This is hiring stuff now. He’ll always be attached to this,” said Kublinskas who also said that they were still affected by this fiasco even if they were not connected with the university anymore.

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