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." - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D