BOARD OKS PLAN TO TEST ATHLETES FOR DRUGS

GASTONIA -- Gaston school board members gave the first round of approval
Monday night to testing high school athletes for drugs, alcohol and,
possibly, steroids.

The question of whether steroids and other performance-enhancing substances
will be covered in the random tests likely will be settled by Gaston County
commissioners, who will be asked to pony up the additional money it will
take -- as much as $135 per student.

The commissioners also will decide with their dollars what percentage of
athletes will have to take the urine tests. It will cost $4,000 to randomly
test 10 percent of the county's high school athletes and cheerleaders.

The board voted 7-1 to adopt the drug-testing plan that the commissioners
first suggested last summer during a budget session. The only dissent came
from board member John Eaker, who said he considered drug testing
unconstitutional.

But board member Kemp Michael, a lawyer, pointed out the courts have
accepted drug testing

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of athletes. He said Gaston's proposed policy isn't aimed at punishing drug
users.

"The ultimate purpose of this is to use athletics as a way to keep them in
the fold," Michael said.

The policy -- which still awaits final approval in January -- would suspend
a first-time offender from only one football game (because of the limited
season), two in other sports.

A second offense would force a player out of athletics for the rest of a
school year. A third would keep him or her banned for the rest of high school.

The policy also provides for parental involvement and the use of outside
drug counselors to help a student with a drug problem.

The tests would be administered to sports team members selected by
computer. Outside medical staff would administer the test and check samples
on campus -- specimens testing positive for drugs -- cocaine, PCP,
marijuana, amphetamines and opiates -- or alcohol would be shipped to a lab
for confirmation.

Reach Chip Wilson at (704) 868-7743 or: chwilson@charlotte.com

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski