Jeremy Griggs says he would never consider using steroids to elevate his athletic ability.

Griggs, 17, a junior wrestler at Chambersburg Area Senior High School, knows true athleticism can be demonstrated only through natural talent. He says he would not object to being tested for steroids if such a procedure were ever mandated by state officials.

"I only train and take protein," Griggs said of his regimen.

Whether high school athletes nationwide should be tested for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs has become a hot topic in the aftermath of New Jersey Gov. Richard Codey's decision in December. Codey approved random steroid testing...

N.J. to test championship contenders
By LINWOOD OUTLAW III
Staff writer

Jeremy Griggs says he would never consider using steroids to elevate his athletic ability.

Griggs, 17, a junior wrestler at Chambersburg Area Senior High School, knows true athleticism can be demonstrated only through natural talent. He says he would not object to being tested for steroids if such a procedure were ever mandated by state officials.

"I only train and take protein," Griggs said of his regimen.

Whether high school athletes nationwide should be tested for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs has become a hot topic in the aftermath of New Jersey Gov. Richard Codey's decision in December. Codey approved random steroid testing for all high school athletes whose teams qualify for championship games beginning in the 2006-07 school year. Athletes who test positive would be barred from championship contention and could face a yearlong ban from school sports.
New Jersey's drug-testing initiative is believed to be the first of its kind for an entire state, according to the National Scholastic Anti Doping Program.

Chambersburg Area School District athletic director Don Folmar said although each of the district's 322 high school athletes is given annual physicals, no athlete is tested for performance-enhancing substances. More than 1,100 athletes in

the Greencastle-Antrim, Shippensburg Area and Tuscarora school districts also are not required to undergo steroid testing during their physical examinations.

Folmar said while Codey's decision is helpful toward protecting the health of New Jersey's high school athletes, other concerns, particularly costs, could be a major factor for school districts looking to implement drug-testing initiatives. Testing for performance-enhancing substances ranges anywhere from $100 to $175 per athlete. It will cost New Jersey roughly $50,000 next year to conduct tests, which will be paid by the state.

"I think it's (Codey's drug-testing ruling) fine. I know of a few school districts in Pennsylvania who do those sorts of tests. But I think the cost for doing the tests is prohibitive," Folmar said. "It could be hard to find the facilities to handle a large number of tests. There could also be issues about privacy for student athletes."

Shippensburg Area School District athletic director Shawn Chiappelli said the possibility of testing high school athletes for steroids or other drugs "has not been a topic the school board has given serious consideration.

"You're always concerned about the well-being of the athletes and students. However, any concern about our athletes or students being involved with steroids or other drugs has been minimal," Chiappelli said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, steroid use more than doubled among high school students from 1991 to 2003, with more than 6 percent of 15,000 students questioned in 2003 acknowledging they tried steroid pills or shots at least once.

A study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that at least 3.4 percent of all high school athletes nationwide admitted to using steroids at least once in 2004.

However, a 2005 "Monitoring The Future" survey funded by the NIDA and conducted by the University of Michigan, which surveyed 49,347 students from 402 public and private schools, revealed a 19 percent decline in the use of any illicit drug by eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders between 2001 and 2005. The survey also revealed a 1.1 percent decline in steroid use among 12th-graders from 2004 to 2005.

"Some kids tend to watch TV a lot and try to emulate their favorite professional athletes. They may come across one of their heroes doing it and they see nothing happening to them," Folmar said. "You just hope that students are educated enough about the dangers of using harmful substances."

Chambersburg superintendent Ed Sponseller said although school administrators "have discussed the possibility of testing students for drugs on several occasions" during his 18-year tenure as superintendent, they have remained focused on developing educational programs that explain to all students, not just athletes, the hazards of using drugs.

"I'm not really aware of the decision that was made out in New Jersey or their policy on steroid testing. Our focus has been more on the educational side in that we want to organize programs that emphasize the health risks involved with drugs," Sponseller said.

Folmar said school districts who offer random drug testing should expand such testing to all students.

"If they're going to test athletes, they should test all students who participate in extracurricular activities, like band and math clubs," Folmar said.

Griggs agrees.

"It would be dumb to just test athletes and not the whole school. There could be kids all around who could be using steroids," Griggs said.

Folmar said although he does not expect Chambersburg school administrators to implement random steroid testing among students in the foreseeable future, it could be something officials might consider as more districts continue to mandate such programs.

Folmar said random testing by schools could help students resist peer pressure or temptation to use harmful substances.

"Anything that can do that would be great. It would be awesome," Folmar said.