CIF Passes Proposals on Steroids

The California Interscholastic Federation became the first state high school athletic governing body to adopt policies specifically regarding the use of steroids.

The CIF’s Federated Council unanimously passed a proposal Friday that requires member schools to institute anti-steroid rules and high school athletes to sign an agreement to not use performance-enhancing drugs.

It also passed a proposal that mandates educating coaches about steroids and one that bans sponsorships from companies that manufacture performance-enhancing supplements.

“I think it sends a real message from CIF of how we view the use of steroids,” Executive Director Marie Ishida said. “Today is a significant day for this organization and I’m very proud to be a part of it.”

Frank Marrero of Vacaville, Calif., the father of a junior college football player who committed suicide in September, delivered an impassioned and emotional speech to the council about the dangers of steroid use. He said his son, Efrain, used steroids and that he was “absolutely certain” steroid use led to Efrain’s suicide.

“I was unaware that [steroid use] was a problem with our youth and kids,” he said. “If we had the information prior, then maybe we could’ve seen some of the symptoms before it progressed to a point where it psychologically impacted his mind.”

Coaches in all sports will be required to take an eight-hour class that covers eight areas of coaching. One of them is the effects of steroids and how to spot athletes who may be using them.

Marrero called coaching education “critical” in preventing future tragedies. He said his son bragged about lifting 350 pounds, up from 225.

“A coach would know that and say, that’s a significant increase,” he said. “There must be something that’s enhancing his performance.”

Schools will be responsible for policing themselves and violations would be handled by district policies, much the same way as violations for using alcohol, marijuana or other illegal drugs. There is no plan for testing.

Raul Lara, football coach at Long Beach Poly, supported the new measures but questioned how effective they will be. “It will discourage some kids, but if there’s no testing it will be difficult to monitor,” he said.

Roger Blake, CIF assistant executive director, said the “low-end” estimate is that 20,000 California high school athletes use steroids and that it could be 70,000 or more.

In other action, the CIF passed a proposal to play state football bowl games in three enrollment-based divisions in 2006 and 2007. The state also adopted a weight-management program for wrestlers that goes into effect for the 2005-06 season, one year before it becomes a nationwide law.