PALM BEACH COUNTY STUDENT ATHLETES COULD FACE RANDOM DRUG TESTING

Illegal drug and alcohol use by high school student athletes is under
attack in Palm Beach County. It's a two-strikes-and-you're-out policy.

The School Board on Wednesday tentatively approved new guidelines
authorizing random drug testing and penalties for violators, as
permitted under federal and state laws.

Administrators are planning to begin the drug-testing program on a
limited basis, beginning with spring baseball and softball players. It
would expand to other sports, including football, in the fall.

"Our health and well-being of our students is primary," said Alison
Adler, the school district's chief of safety and learning environment.
"Also they are going to be tested in college, so why wouldn't we?"
Athletes who use drugs "increase risk of injury to themselves and to
their teammates, athletic opponents or others with whom they
participate in athletic events," the policy states.

The policy involves only student athletes, and it would test for
performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids along with
illegal substances such as cocaine and marijuana, and alcohol.

The U.S. Supreme Court made random drug testing of student athletes
legal in 1995 and expanded that in 2002 to include competitive
extracurricular activities.

The penalty for a first-time offense would be a 10-day suspension from
the team and a requirement to enter a treatment program and submit to
follow-up tests. Players would be allowed to continue practicing with
their teams on a probationary status.

There will be no academic consequences and the school district will
not report violators to law enforcement agencies for prosecution,
officials said.

But a student guilty of a second offense would be banned from all
interscholastic activities for a full calendar year. Students refusing
a drug test would be forbidden from playing any high school sports for
one year, at the conclusion of the season, according to the proposed
policy.

"We want kids in high school to see the effects and consequences of
using drugs," School Board Chairman Bill Graham said.

Student athlete drug testing "should be second nature" in Palm Beach
County high schools by next year, Adler said. An outside company will
conduct the tests.

Five students from each high school will be randomly selected each
month. Head coaches can also demand testing if they suspect a player
is using drugs.

To protect against tampering, male athletes "shall be required to
produce a urine sample at a restroom urinal while being observed from
behind by a male lab technician, athletic coach or school
administrator."

Female athletes would use a restroom stall, while a female technician,
coach or administrator stands just outside.