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."
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D