BLANCHARD ATHLETES FACE DRUG TESTS

BLANCHARD -- School starts Aug. 14 in Blanchard and athletics begin soon
after. But before Blanchard football players can suit up and before the
cheerleaders can start competing, they'll already have been required to
pass at least one test.

Blanchard is one of a handful of school districts in the state that
requires athletes to pass a drug test before they can participate in
extracurricular activities.

Athletic Director Billy Hammon said about 260 Blanchard athletes will be
required to submit a urine sample to be tested for amphetamines, marijuana
and other drugs before they can participate.

"We've found it's been a good deterrent," Hammon said of the policy, now in
its fifth year.

Modeled after a policy in Tecumseh that was challenged all the way to the
U.S. Supreme Court, which backed it by a 5-4 margin, the policy may be
expanded to include all students participating in extracurricular
activities including vocational agriculture and band, Hammon said.

Blanchard Superintendent Dwight Myers said the tests help students and parents.

"We feel like it's beneficial to our students and have not had any problems
with it," Myers said. "I think it speaks well of our community."

Monday, Blanchard cheerleaders, softball and football players will submit
to testing.

Students will be charged $15, of which $4 will be placed into an account to
pay for monthly random testing done throughout the school year.

Hammon said the price went up this year to cover the random testing, which
cost the district about $1,200 last year.

After the initial testing, 10 Blanchard students participating in
extracurricular activities are randomly chosen for testing.

The policy ensures that if Blanchard students don't pass, they don't play.

Hammon said the test is sensitive enough to detect asthma medication and
over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Coaches are trained to administer the tests and help ensure there is no
tampering.

A temperature sensor on the collection jar also ensures the sample
temperature matches body temperature, preventing false samples from being
submitted.

Locally, Purcell also tests its athletes. Mandatory drug testing and
physicals will be given Aug. 9. Athletes are charged $20 for the physical
and the testing.

Ada and Jenks also have similar policies, Hammon said.

Hammon said the testing is time-consuming and requires a number of
individuals to be trained.

"The positives far outweigh the negatives," said Hammon, noting that no
student tested positive last year. "I don't think we could (drop it) now.
It's been real positive to the community. The community wants it and
expects it.

"It's been a big benefit."