Published: 04-07-08
Bill passed last Session requiring steroid testing for student athletes creates a safer environment for Texas students to compete
AUSTIN – The University Interscholastic League (U.I.L.) reports that the steroid testing program mandated by Senate Bill 8 sponsored by Rep. Dan Flynn (R Van) is finally underway. Up to 50000 public school athletes statewide will be chosen for testing.
The first phase of the program is in full swing when in February drug testing teams began arriving on high school campuses across Texas.
Senate Bill 8 authored by Flynn passed the Texas Legislature in 2007 and directed the UIL to implement a statewide steroid testing program that would randomly select between 40000 to 50000 athletes regardless of gender in grades 9-12.
This accounts for roughly 30 of all UIL member high schools being tested for anabolic steroids. The dates of the testing will be unannounced in keeping with the nature of the random steroid testing process.
The number of Texas public schools that have implemented testing for steroids has nearly doubled since 2002. A recent Texas A&M University study shows that steroid use among Texas students in grades 7-12 decreased from 2 percent in 2004 to 1.5 percent in 2006 likely because some students fear testing positive for steroid use and thus possibly being excluded from extracurricular sports.
