Pubdate: Mon, 14 Oct 2002 Source: Arizona Republic (AZ) Copyright: 2002 The Arizona Republic Contact: http://www.arizonarepublic.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24 Author: Doug Carroll Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) QUEEN CREEK TO RANDOMLY TEST ATHLETES FOR DRUGS QUEEN CREEK - Empowering student-athletes to say no to drugs was the motivation behind the Queen Creek Unified School District's new policy of random testing, according to the high school's principal and football coach. The district's Governing Board recently adopted the policy. All athletes at the high school are being required to turn in permission slips to be tested. Numbers will be assigned, and about 5 percent will be drawn for random testing. Parents will be notified of a child's selection. "It's a step in a positive direction," said Curt LeBlanc, the high school's second-year football coach. "It gives them another reason to say no. And if there ever is a concern, it gives kids a means to go for help." Principal Sharron Walker said the policy was two years in the making and said it will "take the pressure off kids." Those who test positive for drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, alcohol and steroids, will be suspended from sports for 18 weeks and required to receive counseling, at their own expense, before being retested. A ruling in June by the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for school drug testing. Walker said the district's lawyers are confident that, because of the ruling, the new policy will withstand any legal challenges. LeBlanc said the players on his team seem unconcerned about testing. "I'm not ignorant (of potential problems), but I'm pretty lucky," he said. "We have a lot of kids who make good decisions." - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D