SDSU Track Drug Tests Start Thursday

Drug testing of the suspended San Diego State men’s and women’s track and field teams will begin Thursday afternoon, said Fred Miller, SDSU athletic director, who added he hopes the team will be able to compete within two weeks.

Miller suspended the teams Monday because of a controversy that surfaced last week surrounding the alleged use of anabolic steroids by some of the athletes.

“We want our people back on the track by next weekend,” Miller said. “From what I understand, it should take a couple of days to administer the test to everybody and then it would be about five or six calendar days before we get all of the results.”

The tests will be administered by the American Clinical laboratories in San Diego with the specimens being sent to the sophisticated UCLA Medical School laboratory, which ran the 1984 Summer Olympics drug-testing program.

The analysis will include searching for recreational drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine, as well as performance-enhancing drugs, such as anabolic steroids, synthetic hormones that promote tissue growth.

Athletes found positive will face 90-day suspensions, Miller said. The testing will cost about $20,000.

Generally, athletes would use steroids as part of their preseason training process. Thus, the athletes would not take the drug during competition.

“I’ve heard so much street talk about when steroids are and aren’t used,” Miller said. “I think all we can do is follow on the path we’ve started. We plan to opt for preseason testing, off-season testing and testing during the season of each sport. If we have individuals who are trying to beat the system we will work to accurately catch up to them.

“We are trying to get across a very clear message: no more drugs. We’ll learn more about the drugs as we go along and eventually we want to say adios to all of them.”

Jim Cerveny, the women’s track coach, said he doesn’t believe the testing will be a waste of time.

“I’ve heard that athletes take these things during the off-season but I’ve also heard that they take them as far as up to four weeks before major competitions,” Cerveny said. “They’ll take them up to four-to-six weeks before something like, let’s say the Olympics, to reach their peak. Then, they’ll try to maintain their peak by using weights.

“Even if it is a waste of time to test for steroids, I think it’s important because we’re also testing for other kinds of drugs. If somebody tests positive for anything, they’ll have a 90-day period to get some help. I think we’ll be helping the athletes.”

Dixon Farmer, the Aztec men’s track coach, said: “I don’t think the athletic department would spend $20,000 on this if it were a waste of time. We don’t have that kind of money to throw away.”

According to Miller, no athletes have said they would refuse to take the test. Laura DeSnoo, an Aztec discus thrower and 1984 Olympian, said she is eager to be tested.

“I can’t wait to test,” said DeSnoo, responding to allegations made by a former Aztec assistant coach that she used steroids. “I’m so happy this all came about. I was in charge of the student community push to get testing like this started last year. I wish we didn’t have to suspend our meet this week, but this is the only positive way we’ll know.”

DeSnoo also said she was interviewed by investigators from the SDSU Department of Public Safety Tuesday regarding the accusations made against her.

“I told them I didn’t take steroids and that I had no idea why those people were making those accusations,” DeSnoo said.

Miller said that the campus police will sort out allegations made last week that led to the track team’s suspension.

Miller said that no charges have been filed but because many of the allegations dealt with potential felonies, the investigation was turned over to the campus police.

“We have a cloud hanging over our program and we need it to be investigated,” Miller said. “As soon as charges dealing with possible felonies are made, it’s out of our jurisdiction.”