Drug testing in NJ HS sports

[JS19]

Don't quote me on this, but I saw something on ESPN along the lines of high school athletes being subject to random drug testing in the great state of NJ. Anyone know anything about this?

[Young Drachma]

Yup, it's true.

First in the nation.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=2434897

New Jersey high school athletes seeking to hoist championship trophies next year may also have to hold an altogether different kind of cup starting this fall.

The Garden State is set to become the first in the nation to institute a drug-testing policy for high school athletes.

Created to test for performance-enhancing drugs, the program will likely screen random athletes for about 80 banned substances ranging from amphetamines to steroids. Public and private school students competing in championship games, either individually or as part of teams, will be subject to the tests.

The state's school athletic association gave preliminary approval to the plan earlier this week and is slated to make a final decision June 7. The organization estimates that about 500 of the 10,000 students competing in state tournaments each year will be tested.

[wade moore]

Here in Williamsburg they are implementing a drug testing policy for HS athletes. But there's an odd twist.

It's voluntary.

So the kids are only tested if they volunteer to be tested.