Pubdate: Thu, 08 Apr 2004 Source: Kingston Whig-Standard (CN ON) Copyright: 2004 The Kingston Whig-Standard Contact: http://www.kingstonwhigstandard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/224 Author: Doug Graham Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) HOCKEY LEAGUE PLANS TO DISCUSS DRUG TESTING Local Sports - Two months after the Quebec triple-A midget hockey league began random drug testing of its players, no other provinces have followed. Hopes that Quebec's bold step -- triggered by a concern from parents and a league president who believed as many as 25 per cent of the midget boys were using drugs -- would push other provincial associations to follow suit hasn't materialized. "I would say that Quebec midget triple-A did show leadership in this area," said Paul Melia, head of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES). "I hope it will serve as a model for perhaps other midget leagues across the country." Many, however, including the Ottawa District Hockey Association, which is home to Greater Kingston major and minor midget teams, have discussions on drug testing tabled for their general meetings this summer. "We are monitoring the situation in Quebec," said Brent Dick, chair of the risk and safety management and abuse and harassment committee for the ODHA. Melia stopped short of saying it was disappointing that while the Quebec league had acted so quickly, others were not following. Quebec midget league president Martin Roy told CBC Radio in Montreal earlier this year he was concerned that up to 25 per cent of the players were consuming drugs. Other associations haven't indicated that drug consumption was anywhere near that figure in their leagues. "For other associations, [drug testing] is probably not that high on their agenda," Melia said. "Usually unless [a drug problem] happens in your association, you sometimes feel immune. "We will continue to work with these organizations. They all show a strong concern for the safety of their players and we support them in that goal." Melia admitted that the cost of the testing could be a deterrent. One test, from the time a sample is taken from a player to the conclusion of the lab work, costs about $500. While he termed the cost of drug testing "not prohibitively expensive," Melia acknowledged that a drain on resources from other areas, such as ice rental and player insurance, might prevent associations from following in Quebec's footsteps. The Quebec league was able to subsidize the cost of the testing by securing corporate sponsorship. "Yes, for volunteer-driven associations, [the drug-testing cost] is not insignificant," Melia said. "However, the development of the plan is to create a deterrent. Typically around 20 per cent [of a league's players] are tested on a random notification." A similar schedule of testing in the Ottawa District association would mean an expense of more than $15,000. One area where the CCES is making headway is in its talks with the Canadian Hockey League, which includes the Ontario Hockey League, the home of the Kingston Frontenacs. Melia has met with representatives from the country's premier junior league regarding the development of a comprehensive policy on anti-doping. "Our talks are going well," he said. "The CHL demonstrated a real and genuine concern for health and safety of their players. Every indication is that [the CHL] would hope to have a policy in place for next season." "There is no place in the CHL for illegal drugs or performance-enhancing substances and the CHL is committed to putting in place a policy that makes this abundantly clear," said Gilles Courteau, vice-president of the CHL and commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh