Pubdate: Sun, 29 Apr 2012
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2012 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Mike Brohard

CSU FIGHT LEADS TO DRUG PROBE OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS

FORT COLLINS - An April 6 fight involving Colorado State University
football players Mike Orakpo, Colton Paulhus and Nordly Capi was bad
enough for the school's and program's public image. When information
concerning the possible use of anabolic steroids and marijuana
surfaced in the police report released Thursday, it became a much more
serious issue for the athletic department.

"It's concerning because we take great pride in not having that
involved in our program, and we have what we think is a very strict
and stringent drug-testing program," said Gary Ozzello, CSU's senior
associate athletic director in charge of external affairs.

Included in the 90-page police report was a description of foil
packages marked as anabolic steroids that were found in Paulhus'
residence, along with hypodermic needles labeled with a prescription
made out to Paulhus. Paulhus, who told police he had a prescription to
take the steroids to treat low testosterone levels, could not produce
the prescription but did admit to police the content of what they found.

In Orakpo's room, police found nine unmarked vials (eight in a
refrigerator) as well as syringes, three of which were used. They were
sent to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for testing, according to
the report. When interviewed along with attorney Erik Fischer by the
police, Orakpo was asked if those vials could present a problem for
him. Fischer interjected and said they could but disagreed with their
being collected as evidence.

Anabolic steroids are considered a Schedule 3 drug in the state of
Colorado, and the possession of them is a Class 4 felony, with a first
offense punishable by two to six years in prison and fines of $2,000
to $500,000. Linda Jensen, the public-information officer for the 8th
Judicial District Attorney's Office, said she could not comment on
whether additional charges would be added to the disorderly conduct
misdemeanors the players have been charged with.

Mike Hooker, CSU's executive director of public affairs and
communication, said the university started its own investigation when
it first became aware of the fight and continues to investigate but
cannot talk about it for privacy reasons. He said the university plans
to move quickly and that, depending on the findings, expulsion of the
involved students is possible.

"That's certainly among the options," he said. "It all comes down to
whether the student-conduct code has been violated."
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D