The $6 million University Interscholastic League (UIL) anabolic steroid testing program in Texas high schools has been besieged with criticism lately. The steroid testing program only found two positive results in 10,117 samples tested during the first semester. Furthermore, Texas UIL misled the general public about the scope of the testing program. Texas UIL lists 36 banned steroids in their steroid testing program. UIL spokeswoman Kim Rogers revealed last month that, in reality, the program only tests for 10 banned steroids. We have previously listed the numerous shortcomings of the Texas high school steroid testing program and explained in detail why the steroid testing would be ineffective. Today, we learned about another problem with steroid testing…
A Texas high school was caught cheating in the administration of the random steroid testing to their student athletes. Officials at Pecos High School apparently gave advance notification to athletes subject to steroid testing. The UIL publicly reprimanded Pecos High School and placed them on probation for one year for violating the State’s steroid testing policy (“Pecos punished for steroid policy violation,” September 3).
University Interscholastic League spokeswoman Kim Rogers said someone at the school violated confidentiality rules that are supposed to prevent athletes from knowing they are about to be tested. She said she had no specifics on who was involved or how the rules were broken.
Representatives of both the UIL and Pecos High School have been very secretive about the matter. The lack of transparency and full disclosure is troubling.
Pecos High School is located in West Texas less than three hours from the Texas-Mexico border.
About the author
Millard writes about anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs and their use and impact in sport and society. He discusses the medical and non-medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids while advocating a harm reduction approach to steroid education.
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