Pubdate: Thu, 30 Dec 2004
Source: Rome News-Tribune (GA)
Copyright: 2004sRome News-Tribune
Contact:  http://www.romenews-tribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1716
Author: Erik Green, Rome News-Tribune Sports Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

WHILE THE NFL GETS TOUGH, THE PREPS TOUGH IT OUT

The NFL is not only America's favorite professional sports
institution, it is also the toughest on drugs.

In researching my portion of our series on anabolic steroid use in
sports, I examined more than 50 pages of the NFL's policy on drugs.

And from what I read, I am convinced that the NFL believes strongly in
keeping banned substances off the playing field. In my research, I
found more than 20 pages on the league's policy on testing and drug
usage in general.

But the most interesting bit of literature was the 25-page policy on
anabolic steroids and related substances, which was adopted in May of
this year.

It lists in clear detail the types of substances that are strictly
banned, leaving little gray area in terms of what will and will not be
tolerated.

They are also tough on offenders.

If you get caught once you serve a four-game suspension; a second time
and you are suspended for six games.

You do it a third time and you're gone for the season.

In the meantime, you don't get paid.

The players are also subject to random tests and can be tested if the
league feels behavioral issues warrant such tests.

Former Dolphin great Dan Marino was reportedly tested eight times in
one season, as an example of random testing.

Though the policy is not based on the zero-tolerance principle, it
does send a clear message that drugs are not allowed.

Now, obviously, the policy does not curb all drug use in the NFL, but
the death penalty doesn't prevent all murderers from killing people.

Recreational drugs, a category into which steroids do not fall, are
clearly social problems and are not limited to the realm of
professional sports.

But the NFL still considers drugs like cocaine, heroin and marijuana
as detriments to the sport.

Testing is not always full-proof, because as Rome High coach David
Humphreys told me, steroids cannot be detected by one blanket screening.

Individuals have to be tested for each form of steroids, which is very
cost prohibitive.

How can high school athletic departments set aside enough money to
test for 70 different kind of steroids in 50 or 60 different players?

The answer is, they can't.

That's why many athletes go untested each year and put their lives at
risk by taking steroids.

One high school coach told me he knew players who took steroids and
had catastrophic muscle injuries.

One player the coach knew snapped one of his quadricep muscles and it
rolled up into his body.

That's because, as the coach said, the muscle tissue grows at a rapid
rate, but the connective tissue doesn't.

It would be like a rubberband trying to hold up an anvil. So coaches
try and educate themselves on the signs of steroid use, such as massive
muscle gain in a short period of time and sudden acne.

Steroids are drugs that do not seem to be going away, although
Humphreys said he has seen a decline in its usage.

All he and his fellow coaches can do is monitor it and keep the drug
from ruining someone's life.
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