THEY'RE HELPING KEEP SPORTS CLEAN

It's March Madness, and Frank Uryasz may understand the madness better than
anyone.

Staff members of his company, The National Center for Drug Free Sport Inc.,
crisscross the country during the NCAA basketball tournament conducting
random drug tests. Some of the center's staff may even be on hand when
first-round games are played at Kemper Arena this weekend.

"We have collection crews all over the country who are trained in sports
drug testing," Uryasz said. "We operate behind the scenes."

Based in downtown Kansas City, Drug Free Sport handles two components of the
National Collegiate Athletic Association's drug testing program - the
national championships for all sports and year-round efforts with member
schools. Uryasz said the NCAA tests about 11,000 athletes annually for
banned substances, from anabolic steroids to stimulants to illegal drugs.

Drug Free Sport contracts with labs to analyze samples.

"We assemble and report the information back to the NCAA, as well as the
schools themselves," Uryasz explained.

Uryasz used to work for the NCAA.

"I really didn't know much about drug testing programs, but I had worked
with athletics at the University of Nebraska for three years, had hospital
experience, and I had an undergraduate degree in biology," he said.

For 13 years Uryasz headed up the drug testing program as the NCAA's
director of sports sciences. He dealt with such issues as HIV transmission
in sports and the illegal use of steroids.

But when the NCAA moved to Indianapolis in 1999, Uryasz decided to stay in
Kansas City.

"I was ready to spread my wings," Uryasz said, so he started Drug Free Sport
- - using his own money -with four employees.

"Our first success was getting the NCAA to outsource its drug testing
program," he said.

The business quickly grew to 10 employees and around 300 independent
contractors who collected samples. Annual revenues for 2003 were $3.6
million. Mary Wilfert of the NCAA said the association has been pleased with
its relationship with Drug Free Sport.

Today, the growing part of the center's business is working directly with
colleges and universities to develop and administer their own drug testing
policies, Uryasz said. Two staff lawyers help draft such policies.

Drug Free Sport clients include the University of Missouri-Kansas City and
Johnson County Community College.

"The staff of The National Center for Drug Free Sport is very professional
and helpful as they apply years of experience, expertise and their keen
knowledge to the needs of our program," said Bob Thomas, director of
athletics at UMKC. "I would characterize their work with us a valued
partnership."

At JCCC, Drug Free Sport provides drug testing services for about 220
athletes, according to Bill Buese, head athletic trainer and professor of
physical education and wellness.

"The National Center for Drug Free Sport understands athletes and the
atmosphere at test time is professional but friendly," Buese said. Personnel
also answer questions about testing, nutritional supplements and new drugs.

In 2001, the center added the Dietary Supplement Resource Exchange Center,
or REC. This hot line and Web site allow athletes access to information on
banned substances and dietary supplements.

"A school or organization will contract with us . and we'll tell the athlete
whether it's (the substance) OK, what we know and what we don't know about
the product," Uryasz said. "We do research to see what's in them. We have to
keep track of all these rules, too, so we're on top of things."

REC's client list includes the National Football League, as well as the
NCAA.

Also in 2001, Uryasz started Sports Association Management Inc. to help
small athletic associations whose budgets can't support hiring an executive
director. "They hire us to manage the day-to-day activities - everything
from financial dues and advertising to publications," he said.

The management company, which operates out of Drug Free Sport's offices,
counts the Amateur Baseball Umpires Association and the Association of
Division III Independents among its clients.

Still, Uryasz's primary focus is The National Center for Drug Free Sport.
And it has its challenges.

"There is a difference between running a drug testing program and running a
company that has a drug testing program," Uryasz said. "Sometimes I deal a
lot with stuff I don't enjoy a lot, like taxes, personnel and leasing space.
(But) I like that we can make changes quickly and respond to clients."

The perks aren't bad, either, Uryasz said.

"You get to go to the NCAA championships, but one of the greatest perks is
getting to stay in Kansas City," he said.