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TexasTerror
April 19th, 2005, 09:21 PM
From the Associated Press, one of our state representatives is trying to make random steroid tests a part of high school athletics. No financial impact to the state? I'm seeing loads of it. Do we know how much these tests costs? We're all bickering about Title IX all the time and equal funding of men and women sports. Now we'd have this financial burden placed on Texas HS.

What other states do something like this? Anyone know of districts that do this? I'm a bit concerned, very concerned, of who is picking up the bill.

AUSTIN -- Alarmed by reports of performance-enhancing drugs in sports from the professional to high school levels, a state lawmaker called today for random steroid tests for Texas public high school athletes during the playoffs.

The bill by Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, would ban from competition those who test positive.

"The objective is to make sure every kid playing sports knows there is a high probability they'll be tested and if tested (positive) they will not play," King said, adding that he believes public schools have ignored the issue.

King missed the March 11 House deadline for filing bills but was granted permission Tuesday to late-file the steroid testing legislation.

The tests would be for athletes on teams competing in University Interscholastic League playoffs. The UIL is the governing body of Texas public high school sports with about 1,300 public school members and two private schools, Dallas Jesuit and Houston Strake Jesuit.

Continued...

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3143212

ngineer
April 21st, 2005, 01:30 PM
Haven't heard of any similar measures being proposed in PA--although one never knows what's in the legislative hopper. Cost will certainly be a factor. If mandated by the State, then should be funded by the State as opposed to individual districts. But we know how that goes.... :(
HOwever, in theory, not a bad idea. We need to nip this problem in the bud and getting the message down to the secondary schools that drugs won't be tolerated, for the kids own good, is important. "Education" is not enough. Fear of being suspended and not being allowed to play is needed to achieve the result.