Huskies’ Track Coach Is Cleared of Drug Allegations

The University of Washington’s track and field coach was cleared of drug allegations surrounding his team, but the school will modify the way medication is dispensed to conform with state guidelines, it was announced Wednesday.

The university and the Washington State Board of Pharmacy launched separate investigations into the school’s drug practices after allegations of anabolic steroid use by athletes were reported in the University of Washington Daily, a student newspaper.

In a May 1 copyright story, the Daily alleged that steroid use was commonplace by Washington track and field athletes and that, in most cases, Coach Ken Shannon was aware of it.

Officials of the student newspaper could not be reached for comment.

The investigations acknowledged that individual athletes used steroids, but there was no evidence to suggest steroid use was prolific or that it was advocated or condoned by any Washington coach, said Mike Lude, school athletic director.

The independent investigations cleared Shannon but found track and field athletes were given some prescription drugs by trainers, rather than by licensed physicians.

The university will modify its drug-dispensing methods to conform with state guidelines that stipulate only physicians and authorized pharmacists provide prescription drugs, said Donald Williams, executive secretary of the state pharmacy board, said at a news conference.

“No state laws were violated, and there were no problems or harm to anyone because of distribution,” Williams said. “But doctors will have to be more closely involved in distributions.

“The drugs must be distributed by doctors or pharmacists.”