Does Your School System Drug Test Athletes?

With MLB on Capitol Hill today answering some blistering questions about steroids and why many high school testing programs are more stringent than MLB's, I was curious to see how many school districts in NC performed random drug tests on athletes.
Here in the Triad, Guilford County does not. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County does. All student-athletes in the WS/FC system are subject to random testing. About 10% of all athletes at each school are selected periodically to be tested. In order to participate in any extracurricular activity, students and parents must agree, in writing, to these random tests. The privacy of failed tests is strictly protected and parents are given opportunities for both a second opinion, at their expense, and a rehab program for the student.

1st Offense: 30 day suspension from extracurricular activities
2nd Offense: Suspended from extracurricular activities for the rest of that semester and the next

I believe WS/FC's policy has been in place since 2001. I know there have been surrounding systems attempt to implement similar policies but either decided it was too expensive or too many people opposed it on grounds of privacy issues.

 

Would it not be a good idea that this should be a statewide policy? Either test, or no test... But having some counties test and have consequences, and others let it slide, seems unfair to me. We have statewide tournaments, statewide rules, how about statewide substance policies?

 

To my knowledge, Charlotte Mecklenburg schools do not drug test...and I agree with PT's post. I wonder what the costs are and who pays for it?

 

There is random drug testing of athletes in the Yadkin County school system (MVAC). My son was drug tested as a freshman. I am a proponent of drug testing.

 

DRUG TESTING

CALDWELL COUNTY HAS RANDOM DRUG TESTING. ATHLETES DO SIGN A RELEASE TO BE RANDOMLY TESTED.

 

should drug testing be something different than "performance enhancing drug" testing?

if a kid is smoking pot, it's not going to afffect his game the same way if he's shooting roids into his thighs.

i kindd of see tham as two different issues -- keeping kids clean and keeping the game clean.

 

I know what you're saying about the difference. However, I have seen some potheads try and play baseball. They enhanced the performance of the other team!! Also, there are enough harmful effects from steroids to go ahead and throw it in with the others. It shouldn't be either/or.

But some schools, WS/FC for example, have discretion as to what specifically to test for. I'm not sure if there is an especially added cost to testing for steroids. I think the primary objective of schools should be to keep the students clean and then the game, but I agree that steriods should be included in the testing if at all possible.

 

TC Roberson / Buncombe County Schools

TC Roberson conducts random tests on their athletes under the Buncombe County School System's drug testing policy that was implemented last year. I'm not sure if they test for steroids, but my son has been tested and I support the program 100%. We can't assume that abuse only starts when young athletes go on to college or professional sports. For some, it starts in high school or earlier.