New Steroid Policy
With
statistics of 1 in 13 student-athletes use steroids being reported (http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2008/05/26/sports/varsity/doc4838e96b5a4d9732936339.txt),
Illinois High School Association
will begin random testing for steroids and performance-enhancing dietary
supplements of teams and individuals qualifying for state finals competition
starting fall 2008.
Any student-athlete who ingests or otherwise uses any of the banned
substances on the association’s banned list, without written permission by a
licensed physician, to treat a medical condition, violates IHSA Bylaw 2.170
and its subsections, and is subject to IHSA penalties, including
ineligibility from competition. The results of all tests shall be considered
confidential and shall only be disclosed to the student, his or her parents,
and his or her school.
No student-athlete may participate in IHSA state series competition
unless the student and the student’s parent (or guardian) consent to random
testing. The form can be downloaded from
www.ihsa.org/forms/current/consent_to_random_testing.pdf
PENALTY
The student would be ineligible for 365
days from the date the test results were reported to the student and the
school.
The student may then apply for
reinstatement of athletic eligibility after 90 calendar days, following the
successful completion of an approved educational program and a negative test
for performance-enhancing drugs.
The board determined that any
team penalties would be determined by the executive director on a
case-by-case basis under the provisions of Article 1.460 of the IHSA
Constitution.
The board also approved the
National Center for Drug Free Sport to provide testing services when the
program is implemented in the 2008-09 school term, and approved the language
of the random testing consent form that each student and his/her guardian
will be required to sign to maintain athletic eligibility.
A complete list of the current IHSA Banned Substance List can be
accessed at
www.ihsa.org/initiatives/sportsMedicine/files/IHSA_banned_list-2007-08.pdf
For further information on IHSA policies or penalties IHSA at
www.ihsa.org.
