but still is only 0.3% of all student athletes
The results of mandatory testing of Texas high school athletes for steroid use reveals a substantially larger number are using banned substances, but the total use of steroids, human growth hormone, and other substances remains low, 1200 WOAI news reports.
Chris Schmidt of the UIL says nine confirmed cases of steroid use were revealed in testing of thousands of student athletes last spring. The results were released on Monday. He says that is substantially more than the one to two positive cases which have routinely been seen over the past several years.
“In past years, the grade level of students that were tested was freshman,” he said. “This year, more seniors were tested.”
A total of 3,311 students were tested in the random spot check program, about a third of whom were football players. Also tested were player in girls soccer and volleyball, and boys baseball.
The tests are supposed to be administered to random students in random sports. The tests are administered by the National Center for Drug Free Sport.
Schmidt declined to say what schools suffered random testing, and whether any of the nine positive results came from San Antonio area schools.
The results show about 0.3% of all Texas high school athletes are using banned substances.
Students who test positive are tested again within thirty days. If that test also shows up positive, the student is removed from extracurricular activities for thirty days. A second positive and the student is banned for one year.
