The Florida High School Athletics Association
will supervise the testing. Its membership
includes 426 public schools and 224 private
schools — all subject to the law that takes
effect July 1.
"I am hopeful that through this legislation we
will limit the number of high school students
struggling with steroid use," Crist said. "It's
our responsibility to teach our children the
serious health risks that may be involved. We
can help prevent serious health problems and
drug abuse later on."
The tests will be randomly administered to 1
percent of high school athletes who compete in
football, baseball and weightlifting during the
2007-2008 school year. The legislation included
$100,000 in funding to pay for the testing.
The bill's sponsor, state Rep. Marcelo Llorente,
said those three sports were chosen because they
are sports where muscle mass most enhances
performance.
Any athlete who refuses to provide a urine
sample would be ineligible to remain on the
team. Those who test positive would be suspended
from the team, but could be reinstated if they
pass a follow-up test later.
"It's been a four-year endeavor," said Llorente,
a Miami Republican who pushed the legislation
with the help of state Sen. Alex Villalobos,
another Miami Republican.
"I think this bill takes us a big step in the
right direction," said Llorente, a former
college baseball player.
Gov. Rick Perry of Texas signed a far more
ambitious bill into law last week that allows
testing of athletes in all sports. Texas budget
planners set aside $3 million per year, and
their program requires a "statistically
significant sample" of students.
New Jersey became the first state in the country
to start a statewide testing policy for high
school athletes last year. Its initial testing
for performance-enhancing drugs among 150 random
samples taken last fall failed to produce a
positive result, the New Jersey State
Interscholastic Athletic Association said.
A telephone message left at the FHSAA offices in
Gainesville was not immediately returned.
