UIL Legislative Council Meeting Results
Media Contact: Kim Rogers
Phone: 512-471-5883
Email:
Date: Jan 10, 2008
Category: Legislative Council
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUSTIN, TX— The UIL Anabolic Steroid Testing Program Protocol, along with a penalty structure and opportunity to appeal results for that program were approved by the UIL Legislative Council Thursday, marking one of the final steps toward implementation of the random steroid testing program mandated by Senate Bill 8 passed by the 80th Texas Legislature.
The Legislative Council unanimously approved the protocol under which the random steroid testing will occur during the 2007-08 school year. According to Senate Bill 8, signed into law by Governor Perry in June 2007, random steroid testing of high school athletes in grades 9-12 should take place at approximately 30 percent of UIL member high schools and sample a statistically significant number of students. The protocol approved Thursday outlines the testing process from the random selection of the schools and students, to the actual collection and analysis of specimens, and goes through the reporting of results and appeal process.
The penalty structure reviewed and approved by the Legislative Council imposes a 30 school day suspension from competition for a student-athlete who tests positive for an anabolic steroid for the first time, and requires a negative result on an exit test for their eligibility to be restored. For a second positive test result, a student-athlete will be suspended for competition for one calendar year and must have a negative test result for eligibility restoration. Upon a third positive test result, the student-athlete is suspended from UIL athletic competition for the remainder of their high school career.
Additionally, the UIL Legislative Council approved the opportunity to appeal a positive anabolic steroid test result. The only appeals that may be made are procedural appeals relating to a violation of chain of custody, analysis or any aspect of the UIL Anabolic Steroid Testing Program Protocol.
The protocol, penalty structure and opportunity to appeal passed by the Legislative Council will take effect immediately upon approval by the Commissioner of Education.
In other action, the results of the Conference 4A Referendum Ballot question regarding adding a fourth team to the playoffs in team sports were announced. By a 186-38 margin, Conference 4A superintendents overwhelmingly voted in favor of adding a fourth team to the playoffs in team sports, beginning in the 2008-09 school year. This change will take effect August 1, 2008 if approved by the Commissioner of Education.
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