2008 Woodie Awards
King's Court
NCAA must deal with steroids issue now
Christopher King, Sports Editor
Issue date: 8/29/07 Section: Editor Columns
We all know about Barry Bonds. Most of us know about Rafael Palmeiro.
Some of us know about Shawn Merriman. But what about Jonathan Figueroa,
Francisco Cruceta, or Tyron Wilson? Those are just a few of the Minor League
baseball players nailed in 2007 for violating Major League Baseball's drug
policy, and chances are you've never heard of them.
Since the MLB instituted a testing policy, fifteen Major League players
have been caught using steroids. One-hundred and thirty minor league players
have been caught, and between 2003 and 2005 (the most recent numbers made
available by the NCAA), 90 student athletes tested positive for steroid use. This disturbing trend indicates
that sports players at lower levels have a tendency to indulge in illegal substances, most likely as a way to
aid them in getting to the next level. While it took professional baseball more than a decade to start checking their players for drugs, the NCAA began testing athletes in 1986.
Superficially, the program appears to be impressive. In 2004-05, 10,094 students were tested. Additionally, in 2006 the NCAA expanded testing to include the summer months, which requires universities to keep tabs on student's whereabouts while school is out of session. If a student fails to show up for his or her test, then the NCAA treats it as if that student failed the test.
"These results are really encouraging and are the direct result of an ongoing partnership between the NCAA and member institutions to continue to strengthen drug-testing efforts by providing education and awareness programs," said Jerry Koloskie, senior associate athletics director at the University of Nevada,
Las Vegas, in an official statement.
But is the NCAA really doing all it can to eradicate steroids from the collegiate playing field?
While the testing of 10,094 student athletes may appear to be impressive, that number represents less than 3 percent of all NCAA athletes. The testing program is also primarily aimed at football players. The number of baseball and track athletes tested is significantly less than that of football, which is surprising as both sports have garnered a reputation tied with performance enhancers.
Some of us know about Shawn Merriman. But what about Jonathan Figueroa,
Francisco Cruceta, or Tyron Wilson? Those are just a few of the Minor League
baseball players nailed in 2007 for violating Major League Baseball's drug
policy, and chances are you've never heard of them.
Since the MLB instituted a testing policy, fifteen Major League players
have been caught using steroids. One-hundred and thirty minor league players
have been caught, and between 2003 and 2005 (the most recent numbers made
available by the NCAA), 90 student athletes tested positive for steroid use. This disturbing trend indicates
that sports players at lower levels have a tendency to indulge in illegal substances, most likely as a way to
aid them in getting to the next level. While it took professional baseball more than a decade to start checking their players for drugs, the NCAA began testing athletes in 1986.
Superficially, the program appears to be impressive. In 2004-05, 10,094 students were tested. Additionally, in 2006 the NCAA expanded testing to include the summer months, which requires universities to keep tabs on student's whereabouts while school is out of session. If a student fails to show up for his or her test, then the NCAA treats it as if that student failed the test.
"These results are really encouraging and are the direct result of an ongoing partnership between the NCAA and member institutions to continue to strengthen drug-testing efforts by providing education and awareness programs," said Jerry Koloskie, senior associate athletics director at the University of Nevada,
Las Vegas, in an official statement.
But is the NCAA really doing all it can to eradicate steroids from the collegiate playing field?
While the testing of 10,094 student athletes may appear to be impressive, that number represents less than 3 percent of all NCAA athletes. The testing program is also primarily aimed at football players. The number of baseball and track athletes tested is significantly less than that of football, which is surprising as both sports have garnered a reputation tied with performance enhancers.
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a fan
posted 9/03/07 @ 10:07 PM NA
This colum was so beautifully well written, it could only be the work of a true borderline genius. Keep up the good work!
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