Mo. lawmakers consider steroid tests for high school

ST. LOUIS -- A Missouri Senate committee will consider legislation Tuesday to require the state's school districts to start testing for steroids.

The hearing comes the same day that Congress started its investigation into a Major League Baseball report of performance-enhancing drug use among players.

"It's a frightening world," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Matt Bartle, R-Lee's Summit. "There are a lot of kids who feel that competitive pressure."

The University of Michigan found about 2 percent of 10th- and 12th-graders surveyed in 2007 reported using steroids at least once. The study included 15,000 students in each grade level and was not limited to athletes.

Florida, New Jersey and Texas have already passed state laws requiring random drug tests for high school athletes. The Illinois High School Association board Monday approved random drug testing during postseason play. That policy covers about 95 percent of the state's high schools.

The Missouri legislation would require testing for performance-enhancing drugs like steroids as well as other illegal substances. Those who test positive would be barred from participating in sports for the rest of that school year plus the next one.

Critics of the mandatory testing, which includes the Missouri School Boards' Association and some high school coaches and athletic directors, said tests are expensive and few athletes are using steroids.

"I'm in the weight room a lot. I don't see the signs of it," said Don Rothermich, athletics director at Parkway Central High School in suburban St. Louis. He said athletics directors from that district have talked about random testing but decided it would be counterproductive.

But the Fort Zumwalt School District in St. Charles County is among a handful of Missouri school districts that already test students.

The district allows parents to choose random testing for their children who play sports. At Zumwalt South, athletics director Mike O'Brien said, 405 athletes -- or 83 percent -- could be administered tests, paid for by the district. Five students are tested weekly for amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana. At least one of the five also is tested for steroids. O'Brien said the school has not had a positive test in the past two years.

Gary Wadler, an expert on drug use in sports, said steroids affect young people by stunting their development and cause liver problems, acne, baldness, development of breast tissue in males and increased facial and body hair in females. High doses of steroids also can increase aggression and irritability.

Wadler, who works with the Montreal-based World Anti-Doping Agency, said drug testing is a key deterrent.

But it's not cheap. A single test can cost $200, and many school districts don't want the state to pass that cost to them. Bartle said one way to pay for it is through membership fees to the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, www.stltoday.com

Steroid testing is SB736