Pubdate: Tue, 06 Sep 2005 Source: Athens News, The (OH) Copyright: 2005, Athens News Contact: http://www.athensnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1603 Author: Steve Hayburn Note: Editor's note: Alexander's new policy does not include testing for performance-enhancing drugs. DRUG-TESTING POLICY MIGHT SOON BECOME STATEWIDE REQUIREMENT Everyone has said his or her piece on the student drug-testing policy at the Alexander School District except for me. I have read both sides of the argument carefully, and I have not seen one person ask the following question. What are you going to do when OHSAA mandates drug-testing policies in the state? I believe in the next several years OHSAA will adopt a drug-testing policy (if they have not already) with regards to performance-enhancing drug use in athletes. I must say that I support this action if and when it takes place. Too many kids out there are clean but are not given a chance because the other athletes are beefed up because of steroids. Steroids can kill a person, and it seems that a lot of citizens are negating that fact and only whining and crying because their kids are getting tested and it's a violation of their rights. HELLO! If you are using performance-enhancing drugs, you should be ousted and made to be an outcast and used as an example, and I think that is what a lot of parents are afraid of if their child fails a drug test. Policies take a lot of time and research and you cannot implement something of this magnitude over a short period of time. I agree with Alexander Schools for implementing their drug-testing policy but they should have taken the time and done a more thorough job. I do not agree with the continuous griping and complaining from the parents because it violates their children's rights. Maybe some things should have been done different but the policy is implemented, and it is there to stay. Don't lay the blame on the school board for implementing this policy; blame the ones who use those drugs and the parents who support their kids by using performance-enhancing drugs. After all it is the bad kids who are responsible for such policies being implemented, not the good kids. So think about what you would do if OHSAA implemented a standardized drug-testing policy that ALL schools would have to adopt. Who would you blame then? Steve Hayburn Nelsonville Editor's note: Alexander's new policy does not include testing for performance-enhancing drugs. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin