Pubdate: Sun, 13 Aug 2006 Source: Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, NJ) Copyright: 2006 Courier-Post Contact: http://www.courierpostonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/826 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) ALLOW PARENTS TO SIGN OFF ON RANDOM DRUG TESTS Where we stand: The body that governs high school sports in New Jersey should alter its first-in-the-nation policy to test athletes for banned substances. While it is most certainly important to teach our young athletes the dangers of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs, the policy the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association will employ goes too far by not giving parents their rightful chance to approve or disapprove of the testing. The NJSIAA, beginning with high school sports this fall, will randomly test athletes who qualify for team or individual state championships for more than 80 banned substances, including steroids. Although it's well-intentioned, the policy ought to be revised. Just as former Gov. Richard J. Codey stepped into this issue by signing an executive order to establish the testing, Gov. Jon Corzine ought to ensure the policy doesn't erode civil liberties. He should issue an executive order forcing participating high schools to ask parents to sign a release form before allowing kids to be tested. No adult can be forced, under the United States Constitution, to offer the government self-incriminating evidence. While those high school athletes who are minors have a different status under our law than adults, it's still dangerous ground for the government, through the NJSIAA, to take potential criminal evidence from their bodies in the form of urine, hair or blood samples without their approval or the approval of their legal guardians. That's what this new NJSIAA policy allows, however. Alter Policy The NJSIAA policy could be a commendable one if it gave parents the choice of whether or not to allow their sons and daughters to be tested. Considering that most parents don't want their kids injecting themselves with steroids or cheating by taking other potentially harmful drugs, it's very likely a majority of them would allow their sons and daughters to be tested if their sports teams made the state playoffs. Frankly, parents, if given the choice, should allow their kids to be tested. Teens today see professional athletes with beefed up bodies make millions of dollars. Because of that, there can be a tremendous lure for young athletes get stronger and faster by any means available. Unfortunately, at least some high school athletes probably put themselves at risk by artificially enhancing their bodies in their efforts to earn college scholarships or become professional athletes. Yet, what many young athletes probably don't know is all the serious dangers associated with steroid use. Along with the well-known symptoms of acne and mood swings, steroids can also cause heart disease, liver damage, blood clots, cancers and strokes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Surely, most parents don't want their kids taking such serious health risks. Nevertheless, there are likely some student-athletes and their parents who would feel as if the testing before playoff games is an unwarranted and illegal intrusion. And they may be justified in not wanting to allow the NJSIAA to take potential evidence from their bodies without permission. If these high schoolers and their parents feel their constitutional rights are being violated, the NJSIAA shouldn't force them to submit to a random drug test just because their baseball or soccer team made the playoffs. It's one thing for an employer -- whether it's the National Football League or just a local fast-food restaurant -- to require employees to submit to drug testing. No adult is forced to work for a certain organization. If someone doesn't like drug testing, they can go find another job where it doesn't occur. Different Situation However, it's a little different with high school athletes. They aren't adults and there's little means for them to go play football or basketball for another school if they have a fundamental disagreement with random drug testing, especially if athletes from every high school are being tested. It's not unwise for New Jersey to take steps to prevent teenagers from harming their bodies and cheating by taking steroids. High school health teachers and athletic coaches should do all they can to prevent kids from experimenting with banned substances. Likewise, testing isn't a bad idea to keep performance-enhancing drugs out of high school sports, either. But not giving parents or kids a choice in the matter is an infringement on their constitutional rights to not be subject to government search and seizure. Before playoffs for fall sports start in a few months, the NJSIAA should amend its policy to require parents' approvals before any students are tested. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman