ALLOW PARENTS TO SIGN OFF ON RANDOM DRUG TESTS

Where we stand: The body that governs high school sports in New
Jersey should alter its first-in-the-nation policy to test athletes
for banned substances.

While it is most certainly important to teach our young athletes the
dangers of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs,
the policy the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
will employ goes too far by not giving parents their rightful chance
to approve or disapprove of the testing.

The NJSIAA, beginning with high school sports this fall, will
randomly test athletes who qualify for team or individual state
championships for more than 80 banned substances, including steroids.

Although it's well-intentioned, the policy ought to be revised. Just
as former Gov. Richard J. Codey stepped into this issue by signing an
executive order to establish the testing, Gov. Jon Corzine ought to
ensure the policy doesn't erode civil liberties. He should issue an
executive order forcing participating high schools to ask parents to
sign a release form before allowing kids to be tested.

No adult can be forced, under the United States Constitution, to
offer the government self-incriminating evidence.

While those high school athletes who are minors have a different
status under our law than adults, it's still dangerous ground for the
government, through the NJSIAA, to take potential criminal evidence
from their bodies in the form of urine, hair or blood samples without
their approval or the approval of their legal guardians. That's what
this new NJSIAA policy allows, however.

Alter Policy

The NJSIAA policy could be a commendable one if it gave parents the
choice of whether or not to allow their sons and daughters to be tested.

Considering that most parents don't want their kids injecting
themselves with steroids or cheating by taking other potentially
harmful drugs, it's very likely a majority of them would allow their
sons and daughters to be tested if their sports teams made the state playoffs.

Frankly, parents, if given the choice, should allow their kids to be tested.

Teens today see professional athletes with beefed up bodies make
millions of dollars. Because of that, there can be a tremendous lure
for young athletes get stronger and faster by any means available.
Unfortunately, at least some high school athletes probably put
themselves at risk by artificially enhancing their bodies in their
efforts to earn college scholarships or become professional athletes.

Yet, what many young athletes probably don't know is all the serious
dangers associated with steroid use. Along with the well-known
symptoms of acne and mood swings, steroids can also cause heart
disease, liver damage, blood clots, cancers and strokes, according to
the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Surely, most parents don't want their kids taking such serious health risks.

Nevertheless, there are likely some student-athletes and their
parents who would feel as if the testing before playoff games is an
unwarranted and illegal intrusion. And they may be justified in not
wanting to allow the NJSIAA to take potential evidence from their
bodies without permission.

If these high schoolers and their parents feel their constitutional
rights are being violated, the NJSIAA shouldn't force them to submit
to a random drug test just because their baseball or soccer team made
the playoffs.

It's one thing for an employer -- whether it's the National Football
League or just a local fast-food restaurant -- to require employees
to submit to drug testing. No adult is forced to work for a certain
organization. If someone doesn't like drug testing, they can go find
another job where it doesn't occur.

Different Situation

However, it's a little different with high school athletes. They
aren't adults and there's little means for them to go play football
or basketball for another school if they have a fundamental
disagreement with random drug testing, especially if athletes from
every high school are being tested.

It's not unwise for New Jersey to take steps to prevent teenagers
from harming their bodies and cheating by taking steroids. High
school health teachers and athletic coaches should do all they can to
prevent kids from experimenting with banned substances.

Likewise, testing isn't a bad idea to keep performance-enhancing
drugs out of high school sports, either.

But not giving parents or kids a choice in the matter is an
infringement on their constitutional rights to not be subject to
government search and seizure. Before playoffs for fall sports start
in a few months, the NJSIAA should amend its policy to require
parents' approvals before any students are tested.