Steroid Testing To Include Softball, Flag Football
Published: Jul 11, 2007
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When high school female athletes are awarded Division I scholarships for flag football or signed to million-dollar contracts to play professional softball, Chamberlain High's Bob Diez may say steroid testing is understandable.
Until that happens, Diez, the school's softball coach, said it's not necessary.
Tuesday, Denarvise Thornton, the Florida High School Athletic Association senior director of athletic operations and officials, confirmed that flag football and softball will be included in the recently signed random steroid-testing bill to suit gender equity.
"The guys have more to gain for getting bigger and stronger," Diez said. "There are no professional contracts for flag football."
On June 19, Gov. Charlie Crist signed House Bill 461, which would allow the FHSAA to test up to one percent of athletes participating in football, baseball and weightlifting.
"Those sports are conformable to football and baseball, and we think we'll be safer putting it in that way to address gender equity," Thornton said.
Coaches from Hillsborough County think differently.
"If they were testing for drugs, period, I think that would be better served," Diez said. "Kids would really be on alert for that. I don't think [testing females] is a problem. If you've been to softball lately, they look like girl-playing girls."
"I don't think there is that problem with female athletes," said Riverview flag football coach Jo Jennings, whose team advanced to the state flag final four this past season. "You just don't see female [high school] athletes enhancing their bodies. If that's what they're testing for, I think it's fine as far equity, but I don't think it's as big a problem for female athletes."
Jennings also coaches girls basketball and said performance-enhancing drugs have never been an issue with her players.
"I've never even had a conversation with a female athlete about it, and I've been doing this for 14 years."
Thursday, State Rep. Marcelo Llorente, R-Miami, who initiated the steroid-testing amendment, met with Thornton and other members of the FHSAA in Miami to discuss the testing program. During the meeting, the parties involved discussed gender equity, procedures and the possible influx of positive reinforcement for more random testing.
When asked whether female sports like flag football and softball would be included Monday, Llorente responded, "We need to get a better feel for the number of athletes participating."
However, it was reported that FHSAA commissioner John Stewart said athletes participating in those sports would be subject to testing.
"Our understanding was that the representative [Llorente] was approving of this," Thornton said.
As far as making a dent in the fight against athletes who have used or will consider using steroids, Llorente, a former baseball player at Tulane University, said he hopes the program will send shockwaves.
"There is the temptation out there for student-athletes to take a short cut," he said. "There is temptation to enhance your performance. I don't think young kids understand what the consequences are."
Thornton said the FHSAA will concentrate on sending notifications to all member schools within two weeks. Those forms will include parental consent forms and more information on the random testing.
Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848 or nwilliams@tampatrib.com.
