N.J. bill would expand steroid testing program

New Jersey legislators are moving a bill that would expand the state’s steroid testing program for high school athletes.

The state Assembly’s Education Committee unanimously approved the bill on Monday. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) already randomly tests athletes participating in championship tournaments, but the bill would make the program year-round.

Under the current testing program, only three student-athletes have tested positive for a banned substance over the last 10 years, according to The Record.

From the article:

The measure, sponsored by Assemblywoman Valerie Vaineri Huttle, D-Englewood, would require coaches to incorporate an anti-steroid component into their training program for student athletes and require schools to display steroid information posters in gyms and locker rooms. It would designated the week beginning with the third Monday of September as “Steroid Awareness Week.”

It also would appropriate $45,000 from the state Department of Education to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to do the additional testing.

The article notes that a single steroid test costs about $500, and the NJSIAA already spends about $100,000 annually to test about 200 student-athletes.

Governor Chris Christie has vetoed similar bills twice before, but lawmakers are confident additional appropriations from the department of education will help win his support.

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