Rock Hill Herald Logo

South Carolina has no plans for steroid tests | Rock Hill Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
  • Customer Service
  • Mobile & Apps
  • Newsletters
  • Archives

    • All News
    • Local News
    • Local Traffic Cam
    • North Carolina
    • South Carolina
    • Business
    • Education
    • NIE
    • Crime
    • More News
    • Andrew Dys
    • Nation/World
    • Politics/Government
    • Weird News
    • Databases
    • Down Home Magazine
    • Physicians Directory
    • Fort Mill Times
    • Fort Mill Times Sports
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Submit a Letter to the Editor
    • All Sports
    • Panthers
    • College
    • Winthrop
    • High School
    • High School Football
    • Auto Racing
    • Politics
    • Elections
  • Obituaries
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Submit a Letter
    • To the Contrary
    • James Werrell
    • Palmetto Opinion
    • All Living
    • Community
    • Weddings
    • Engagements
    • Anniversaries
    • Births
    • Religion
    • Family
    • Home & Garden
    • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Books
    • Calendar
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Rewards
    • Horoscopes

  • Legals
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Virtual Career Fair
  • Homes
  • Classifieds

Sports

South Carolina has no plans for steroid tests

By Steve Wiseman - Steve Wiseman

    ORDER REPRINT →

June 19, 2007 12:07 AM

COLUMBIA-- South Carolina has no plans to join a growing number of states testing high school athletes for steroid use.

New Jersey last year became the first state to implement a steroids testing program for high school athletes.

State legislatures in Texas and Florida are following suit this year. Last month, Texas approved spending $3 million per year for testing.

Though 2005 data from the Centers for Disease Control - the latest data available -- indicates steroid use among S.C. high school students reached an all-time high, state lawmakers and school administrators said the problem has not risen to a level that requires costly testing.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

"Right now, I don't see that; especially at Dillon High School, we don't have that problem," said Jackie Hayes, Dillon's athletics director and football coach. "I don't think it's an issue statewide."

Hayes holds a unique position in the discussion. In addition to his duties at Dillon, he has represented the Pee Dee community in the state House of Representatives since 1999. The Dillon Democrat also is a member of the S.C. High School League's executive committee.

Jerome Singleton, the High School League's commissioner, said the focus in South Carolina is on educating athletes about the dangers of illegal steroid use. Singleton said he realizes steroid use might be taking place, but he believes that if large numbers of athletes were doping, that fact would be brought to his attention.

"I'd rather take the proactive role of let's educate them," Singleton said. "Let's take our heads out of the sand and admit that there's a chance that it may exist. (But) I don't have a feel from the membership that an extremely high number of kids are out there using steroids. I trust our membership that they know what our kids look like."

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Youth Risk Behavior Survey show more S.C. kids have admitted experimented with steroids.

In the 2005 CDC study released last year, 6.1 percent of S.C. high school students surveyed said they had used steroids illegally at least once. That figure is the highest percentage in South Carolina since the biennial survey began in 1991. The national average is 4 percent.

The number of male respondents admitting they had used steroids was 7.3 percent.

"That causes me concern," Singleton said. "That's an interesting number. We'd be foolish to believe it doesn't exist in South Carolina."

Yet Singleton is confident the number will decrease when results of this year's survey are released next summer. He points to educational programs, including posters and DVDs aimed at informing kids about the dangers of steroids.

Erica Deahl, a standout soccer and basketball player at Lexington High, doesn't believe steroid use is widespread. But Deahl, who will play basketball at Presbyterian College this year, admits hearing of isolated use among male athletes.

""I have heard rumors of a couple people trying it," Deahl said. "But I don't think it''s a huge problem."

Though Texas (4.3) and Florida (4) had lower percentages of athletes admitting to steroid use than South Carolina, those states, along with New Jersey, have taken the lead in randomly testing high school athletes for steroids.

New Jersey conducted 150 random tests in the fall. According to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, no positive results were found.

Florida approved $100,000 for a one-year pilot program that randomly will test football, baseball and weightlifting participants. About 1 percent of the state's high school athletes will be tested.

Texas took the boldest step with its plan, which randomly will test between 22,000 and 25,000 of the state's 730,000 athletes. The penalties, approved last week by the state's University Interscholastic League, are a 30-day suspension for a first positive test, one year for a second positive and a permanent ban for a third.

Because it took legislative intervention to enact get testing programs in those states, the opinions of S.C. lawmakers are crucial.

State Rep. Leon Howard, D-Richland, heads the S.C. House's Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee, which would take up any such legislation. While Howard said he has heard no talk of the need for testing, he is willing to discuss it.

"I would certainly take the bill up," Howard said. "I would not sit on the bill. I would take a good look at the pros and cons."

Deahl said he wouldn't have been opposed to testing during high school.

"I don't think it would hurt because it would make high school athletes scared," Deahl said. "That's not something they should be doing (taking steroids). If the money is there, then I don't think it would be bad."

Each steroid test costs about $100, meaning state funding money likely would be necessary.

Hayes said lawmakers would be prudent to show patience, letting other states work through testing plans before enacting one in South Carolina.

"One good thing about South Carolina is it seems we wait until the end to do things," Hayes said. "There has got to be a funding mechanism, or three-quarters of the state's high schools won't be able to afford it."

  Comments  

Videos

Rested team to take on Florida

Duke’s Jack White talks lessons from Louisville rally

View More Video

Trending Stories

Teen charged in Rock Hill sexual assault found driving woman’s stolen car, police say

February 15, 2019 08:51 AM

‘Please hurry:’ Gun stolen from Rock Hill shooting victim’s house, police say

February 15, 2019 03:52 PM

That trendy CBD product in your smoothie? Adding it is illegal, NC officials say

February 15, 2019 11:56 AM

We’ve canceled the ‘Non Sequitur’ comic strip in The Herald and want you to know why

February 15, 2019 12:23 PM

Listen: York County Sheriff releases 911 audio from Rock Hill triple shooting

February 15, 2019 03:34 PM

Read Next

Gamecock great Rick Sanford joins Kornblut’s new statewide SportsTalk show

Sports

Gamecock great Rick Sanford joins Kornblut’s new statewide SportsTalk show

By Bob Gillespie Special to The State

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 16, 2019 12:13 PM

Former South Carolina All-American defensive back Rick Sanford will spend more time on the state’s airwaves commenting on local and nation sports when he joins longtime broadcaster Phil Kornblut’s Sports Talk show starting Monday night, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE SPORTS

The NFL reaches a settlement with Colin Kaepernick. And EVERYONE is talking about it

Carolina Panthers

The NFL reaches a settlement with Colin Kaepernick. And EVERYONE is talking about it

February 16, 2019 08:00 AM
Comedian Famous Los leads Home Team in NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

Charlotte Hornets

Comedian Famous Los leads Home Team in NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

February 16, 2019 12:04 AM

Sports

Versatile Romo feeling young as part of rebuilding Marlins

February 16, 2019 01:31 PM
Thomas, Scott retain share of early lead at Riviera

Sports

Thomas, Scott retain share of early lead at Riviera

February 16, 2019 01:24 PM
NBA, FIBA announce plans for pro league in Africa

Business

NBA, FIBA announce plans for pro league in Africa

February 16, 2019 01:19 PM
No peanuts or Cracker Jack at the old ballgame in Hartford

News

No peanuts or Cracker Jack at the old ballgame in Hartford

February 16, 2019 01:15 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Rock Hill Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Advertising Information
  • Place Obituary, Celebration
  • Place Classified, Legal
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story