YES, THERE'S A NEED FOR DRUG TESTING

The NCAA is still defining drug-testing policies for athletes all over
the United States. Here's a policy that works: zero tolerance.

NCAA officials should instate this policy. And if it isn't enforced by
the NCAA, it should be enforced by each school.

This argument goes around and around. Drugs are bad. Some drugs are
helpful to athletes. If it is legal to buy, it should be legal to
take. Steroids, amphetamines, marijuana, etc., are all discussed on a
daily basis.

Some say constant drug testing takes away an athlete's right to
privacy. Some say that only an athletes know what they should or
shouldn't do to their bodies.

I say who cares about what the athlete wants.

Every athlete on every team--high school, college, pro, little league
even--represents not only himself but a group. Even individual
competitors represent something, whether it be their countries or
their sponsors.

Because of this representation, rules should be enforced.

Drug policies aren't compiled to piss off athletes. They are designed
to keep them safe and healthy.

Yes, other students smoke marijuana--some on a regular basis. Yes,
other students take amphetamines and like to relax with pain killers.
And no, these students are not tested.

However, these students aren't scholarship athletes. No one is handing
them a free education if they come and represent a university.
Students with drug habits are a whole other issue. There is a line
between a business sophomore and a star athlete. The business major,
although maybe a stellar individual, is probably not a role model to
hundreds, even thousands of fans (depending on the sport).

Athletes should not be upset about drug testing. They are given so
many opportunities. If they are asked to meet certain guidelines, they
should meet certain guidelines. If they don't like the rules, there
are thousands of wannabe athletes out there who didn't quite make the
cut who would be more than willing to cooperate.

So, while policies continue to change and the NCAA tries to figure out
what is fair and what is not, no athletes should use any drug
whatsoever.