Performance enhancing drugs are the whispered suspicions of major league and college level sports. Superstars use them to break records, make it into the hall of fame, or win a final.
Recently however, there has been a great debate over whether high school student athletes should be randomly drug tested. Illinois is about to begin testing its athletes for drug use, however Iowa athletic sanctioning bodies will likely not go down the same road.
I have recently learned that the Illinois High School Association has begun random tests of its athletes for performance-enhancing drug use since the fall athletic season began. Research indicates at least one out of every 13 athletes in Illinois are using drugs to increase their athletic performance.
It seems to me that if students didn’t do drugs or take illegal substances, that their grades will greatly improve. As well as increase the persons general mood about the world.
But Iowa governing bodies, such as the Iowa High School Athletic Association, will not follow suit for now.
This is quite a new and interesting tactic Illinois has adapted into their student athlete policy. It is hard to see the end result whether it will be positive or negative. I am happy to know that Iowa will not continue and follow this domino effect.
That news comes despite recent surveys that shows some athletes indeed dabble with drugs. Over 4,000 youngsters were surveyed by the Iowa High School Athletic Association four years ago and four percent acknowledged steroid use compared with only two percent in a similar survey five years before that.
IHSAA official Alan Beste says the Iowa code has strict guidelines that prevent search and seizure. The probable cause is needed and that prevents the association from random tests. Thus, the IHSAA does not get involved in drug tests, because state law has stronger language that runs counter to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that allows random testing.
In my opinion, I don’t exactly know what to think of it. I mean, I don’t know anyone who does drugs, drinks, and uses steroids on a regular basis. However, I am not the most popular guy around, and I don’t know everyone at City High. However, odds are that someone at school is doing some bad things to their body.
Subsequently, I can see how it would be a positive addition. I believe that if this new law was adapted in Iowa, the amount of house parties would greatly decrease as well as the number of driving under the influence violations.
Some City High students said that it wouldn’t really affect me. Mostly because they don’t use drugs. However, some students think that it is not a bad idea if it’s done randomly. Especially since several students are on the football team and they don’t know anyone who uses performance enhancing drugs.
One example that most of us remember happened a few years ago. In 2010, the week of the semi-final football game, junior Ronald Thompson was caught on school grounds for smoking pot. I don’t know about the rest you guys, but I was furious. I couldn’t believe that something like this had just happened. The football team was able to defeat the Bettendorf Bulldogs with only one running back, Cedric Readus. However, this 27-0 team took its first loss in two years. We had lost to West Des Moines Dowling Catholic in triple overtime. There is no doubt that this team was very good, and ending the season a runner-up is something to be very proud of. So, yes I think that Thompson had done the right thing, we would have won a back-to-back state championship. So just remember that if you are reading my opinion article, and know that you are doing the wrong thing, just remember that you are not just letting yourself down. You are also disappointing your team, school, and community.
I believe that no matter what the circumstance is, no one should think that doing something like drugs is okay. Whether it is to increase your speed in a sport, or to make yourself feel better or high.
