UIL Announces Company Selected to Conduct Random Steroid Testing Program
Media Contact: Kim Rogers
Phone: 512-471-5883
Fax: 512-471-6589
Email:
Date: Jan 22, 2008
Category: Athletics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUSTIN, TX— The National Center for Drug Free Sport, Inc. has been selected to conduct the UIL Anabolic Steroid Testing Program for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years, the UIL announced on Tuesday.
After holding a formal bid process, the UIL considered all proposals submitted and selected The National Center for Drug Free Sport, Inc., also known as Drug Free Sport, to conduct the UIL Anabolic Steroid Testing Program mandated by Senate Bill 8.
“We are excited about Drug Free Sport conducting what is slated to be the largest steroid testing program in the country, and the first of its kind for high school students,” said UIL Assistant Director and Director of Athletics Dr. Charles Breithaupt. “We look forward to working closely with Drug Free Sport in implementing a first-class steroid testing program that we feel will be a model for other states and organizations to follow. With their past experience in testing NCAA student-athletes for many years, and conducting high school steroid testing programs in other states, we are confident that Drug Free Sport is the right company to carry out this massive testing program.”
“We are very pleased to be selected to administer the UIL Anabolic Steroid Testing Program,” said Drug Free Sport President Frank Uryasz. “The UIL has taken great care to establish a program that will meet the objectives of Senate Bill 8. Drug Free Sport will rely on its vast experience in high school and collegiate steroid-use prevention in administering a top-notch program across the state of Texas.”
Senate Bill 8, passed by the 80th Texas Legislature, and signed into law by Governor Perry in June of 2007 mandates that the UIL conduct random steroid testing of high school athletes in grades 9-12 at approximately 30 percent of UIL member high schools and sample a statistically significant number of students.
After extensive legal review throughout the protocol development process and a 21-day public comment period, the UIL Legislative Council approved the final protocol for the 2007-08 school year and that protocol was given its final approval by the Commissioner of Education on January 14, 2008.
With the finalization of the contract, the UIL Anabolic Steroid Testing Program is set to begin within the coming weeks. There is no set date for the first test to take place. All testing dates will be unannounced, in keeping with the nature of the random steroid testing process.
About The National Center for Drug Free Sport, Inc.
The National Center for Drug Free Sport, Inc. (also known as Drug Free Sport) is the premier provider of drug-testing programs in sport. Drug Free Sport administers comprehensive drug-testing programs, manages national and international collections, develops drug-testing policies and provides educational services to a wide range of clients in sport. Drug Free Sport is the only full-service third-party drug-testing administrator that focuses exclusively on sport. Current clients include the NCAA, the PGA Tour, the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), the Florida High School Athletic Association and more than 200 colleges and institutions nationwide. Drug Free Sport is based in Kansas City, Mo. For more information on Drug Free Sport please visit http://www.drugfreesport.com.
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