PED testing program cut for high school athletes

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

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Baseball players at Braden River High School participated in the pilot testing program in 2008.

MANATEE COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- While baseball star Alex Rodriguez continues to talk about his use of performance enhancing drugs, high school students may be getting off the hook.

The state just cut their pilot program that forced student athletes to be tested for performance enhancing drugs.

A spokeswoman with the Florida High School Athletic Program says the testing was eliminated because of budget cuts.

The tests cost $166 a piece and more than $100,000 was spent on the program last year. The spokeswoman says she was told the money was needed elsewhere this year.

Braden River High School athletic director Bob Bowling says he's disappointed.

"It was a good deterrent I think," Bowling said. "It let kids know they were going to be tested, and anybody that was thinking about it stopped at that point. So it served its purpose."

In Manatee County, student athletes and cheerleaders are also required to take random recreational drug tests.

If caught, they're ordered to take drug classes, and they also face suspension from the team. The program is funded by a federal grant, and we're told it's not in jeopardy of going away.