Texas tests 10,407 students for steroids – but only 2 flunk Preliminary results find very little student steroid use

Findings prove deterrent effect, supporters say; but critics argue screenings prove $3 million-a-year project is a waste of money

AUSTIN — Only two athletes tested positive for steroid use among some 10,000 Texas high school students tested this spring, raising doubts about whether state lawmakers will renew the $3 million-a-year project at current levels.

The testing company's preliminary results are based on an estimated 10,407 students who were tested since February, when state officials launched the random steroid-testing program mandated by state lawmakers. National Center for Drug Free Sport is expected to release a formal report later this summer.

Both supporters and critics of the testing program — the largest among high schools in the country — said the results validate their positions.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Monday he was pleased with the cursory results.

"I pushed this important legislation through the Legislature because I knew it would deter our young people from wrecking their bodies and putting their lives at risk by using illegal steroids," Dewhurst said. "And these test results clearly show the deterrent is working because young people know they can't use illegal steroids without getting caught."

But Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, one of seven state lawmakers to vote against the steroid-testing program, wants it abolished. There are 181 members in the Texas Legislature.

"This is one of those issues that sounds good but has no real impact except wasting taxpayer dollars," Patrick said. "I don't want to diminish the seriousness of steroids, but you can't take a sledgehammer to kill a gnat. Spending $1.5 million per kid is ludicrous."

The program missed the football season, although the random tests did include football players in the off-season. Patrick doubted that testing during the football season this fall would produce significant changes.

The purpose of the program has met its objective of creating a deterrent effect and ensuring fair competition, said Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Van, House sponsor for the steroid legislation.

Flynn did not flinch at the $1.5 million cost per positive test result, noting the price tag would be immaterial "if that's your kid."

Brett Marshall, a recently graduated Baytown Sterling pitcher and the New York Yankees' sixth-round draft pick in June's Major League Baseball draft, said he wasn't surprised by the low number of positive tests.

"With everything that's going on in the majors, I'm sure if high school kids were taking steroids they stopped (by time testing began)," he said. "If they would have done it a couple of years ago, I think more would have failed. But players are more aware because of what has gone on at the major league level."

Protecting students

Several coaches also questioned the cost of the steroid-testing program, but noted it did serve the purpose of being a deterrent.

"I think in this day and time, anything we can do to protect our kids is good," said Corby Meekins, Westfield head football coach.

He said it was probably too early to decide whether the testing should be stopped.

"If we're able to save five, that's five we wouldn't have gotten to if we weren't testing," Meekins said.

The program will resume in the fall, with an estimated 30 percent of student athletes at 400 Texas public high schools to be randomly tested. Between 40,000 and 50,000 student athletes will be tested next school year, according to state officials. The results of the second year of testing likely will determine future funding, Flynn said.

"If we come back and you have just another two positive tests, then I think it would be realistic to scale it back some," he said. "I don't think anyone would have a problem with that because you still have the deterrent factor out there because it's a random test."

The first positive test for anabolic steroid use triggers a 30-day suspension from competition. State officials would not identify the schools in which a student-athlete failed the steroid test.

Education's role

Experts predicted that random steroid tests would result in less than 1 percent of students testing positive, said Jeff Kloster , associate commissioner for health and safety at the Texas Education Agency

"Whether or not the program continues as a state-funded program is a policy decision that the Legislature will have to look at based upon what they know," Kloster said.

His agency will continue to provide anti-steroid educational information to students, parents and coaches, he said.

State Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, agreed that schools should ramp up educational warnings about steroid use. But she voted against the testing program last year and hopes it fizzles out in the next legislative session.

"I thought the whole concept was absolutely silly," she said. "We should focus on education ... The money needs to be better utilized in preparing our kids for Texas' global economy."

Chronicle staffer Sam Khan contributed.

gscharrer@express-news.net