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TRENTON, N.J. -- At a time when steroid use by professional athletes is under congressional scrutiny, New Jersey lawmakers are moving to ensure that student-athletes understand the dangers of using performance-enhancing drugs.
Student-athletes as young as 12 could undergo random tests for steroids under a bill up for consideration on Thursday.
It also would require coaches to incorporate steroid deterrence into training and practices and mandate the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to develop a prevention program for coaches and athletic directors to use.
The measure would put the force of law behind a random drug testing policy adopted two years ago by the NJSIAA under an order by then-Gov. Richard J. Codey, a youth basketball coach and sponsor of the current proposal in his present capacity as a state senator.
New Jersey became the first to institute a statewide steroid-testing policy for high school athletes in 2006. The NJSIAA, the governing body for state scholastic athletics, randomly tests athletes who qualify for team or individual state championships.
Athletes who test positive for any of more than 80 banned substances -- a list that includes anabolic steroids, some diuretics and other performance-enhancing drugs -- face a one-year loss of eligibility.
The NJSIAA reported in September that only one in 500 high school athletes screened for steroids in the first year of the program tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
Steroid use by professional baseball players has recently been the focus of highly publicized congressional hearings and a subsequent investigation into conflicting testimony offered by pitching ace Roger Clemens and his former personal trainer over whether Clemens ever used steroids or human growth hormone.
N.J. Considers Tougher Steroid Testing For Student Athletes - News Story - WNBC | New York
Student-athletes as young as 12 could undergo random tests for steroids under a bill up for consideration on Thursday.
It also would require coaches to incorporate steroid deterrence into training and practices and mandate the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to develop a prevention program for coaches and athletic directors to use.
The measure would put the force of law behind a random drug testing policy adopted two years ago by the NJSIAA under an order by then-Gov. Richard J. Codey, a youth basketball coach and sponsor of the current proposal in his present capacity as a state senator.
New Jersey became the first to institute a statewide steroid-testing policy for high school athletes in 2006. The NJSIAA, the governing body for state scholastic athletics, randomly tests athletes who qualify for team or individual state championships.
Athletes who test positive for any of more than 80 banned substances -- a list that includes anabolic steroids, some diuretics and other performance-enhancing drugs -- face a one-year loss of eligibility.
The NJSIAA reported in September that only one in 500 high school athletes screened for steroids in the first year of the program tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
Steroid use by professional baseball players has recently been the focus of highly publicized congressional hearings and a subsequent investigation into conflicting testimony offered by pitching ace Roger Clemens and his former personal trainer over whether Clemens ever used steroids or human growth hormone.
N.J. Considers Tougher Steroid Testing For Student Athletes - News Story - WNBC | New York
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