LANSING-Sen. Switalski today cited a new report on steroid abuse by professional athletes as a wake up call to address his legislation, Senate Bill 30, to institute performance enhancement testing in high school athletics. The report released a list of Major League Baseball players who have tested positive for steroids and other banned substances.

“These athletes are the idols and role models of today’s youth, and their pursuit of athletic prowess at all costs is starting to trickle down through the ranks,” said Sen. Switalski. “We need to ensure a level playing field in all competition and do what we can to look out for the health and well-being of our student athletes.”

Sen. Switalski’s legislation would institute random steroid testing at all major high school sports competitions. To cover the costs of the required testing, a $1.00 surcharge will be added to the admissions charge at state-wide tournaments. The bill also lays out penalties for students who test positive for performance enhancing drugs during high school athletic competitions.

“Any professional athlete will wax nostalgic about the purity and integrity of competition at the high school level,” said Sen. Switalski. “But kids today are losing sight of that when they begin to rely on chemical enhancements to increase their performance. This bill will keep the athletic system honest and preserve the core intent of youth sports in our state.”

A new report released today reinforced already rampant speculation on the prevalence of steroid use in Major League Baseball. The report revealed that between 5 percent and 7 percent of players who participated in a 2003 survey tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Twenty months in the making, the investigation hones in on allegations that have been raised since sluggers Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa thrilled fans with a record-shattering home run race in 1998. The report calls out nearly 80 baseball players by name that were found to be using steroids at some point during their major league.

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