SDSU’s 11 Qualifiers Pass Drug Test : Results Are Not Released for the Other Track Athletes

There should have been a collective sigh of relief Friday from San Diego State’s 11 track and field qualifiers for the NCAA Championships. After all, it had been announced that all 11 could participate in the NCAA meet because each had tested negative for steroids and other drugs.

But while the athletes said they were happy to hear the news, they were sorry it was announced. Since SDSU officials will not confirm whether anyone else on the team tested positive, some of the NCAA qualifiers think a shadow has been cast over the remainder of the team.

“The thing about this is that only so many of us are going to the NCAAs,” hurdler Ed Cooper said. “From what we understood, no names were going to be released. This makes it seem like some of the people not going might be on drugs. Their names have not been in the newspapers as being clean.”

Fred Miller, SDSU athletic director, made public the results of the 11 NCAA qualifiers.

“I don’t know why Miller said 11 passed the test,” shotputter Laura DeSnoo said. “I don’t know why he didn’t say everybody passed the test or six didn’t. To single us out when he said no names would be given isn’t right.”

Miller said he was in a “Catch-22” situation. If an Aztec athlete didn’t appear when the NCAA meet began June 4 in Indianapolis, it would raise obvious suspicions.

“We have 11 entries going,” Miller said. “What does that tell you? They’re clean.”

SDSU’s drug testing came about after public allegations were made concerning steroid use by some team members. Nearly 90 track and field athletes were tested March 28, but about 40 had to be retested two weeks later because some of the tests were too diluted to determine results. Although SDSU officials announced that results of everyone in the original testing had turned up negative, they would not announce results of the second tests.

Meanwhile, several of the athletes also were upset Friday that they will not be accompanied by a trainer to the NCAA meet. Acting trainer Carlynn Smith, who was not selected for the permanent job, said she had an assistant trainer prepared to go, and since the assistant already was going to be at a medical meeting in Indianapolis, the trainer needed about $500 in expenses for lodging and the flight home.

“We had athletes, both head coaches and an assistant coach going,” Miller said. “It seemed like there was a whole entourage. What happens when you get to the national meet? There’s a training staff in place. It became an economic issue for us.”

However, the athletes think their performances could be hindered without SDSU’s trainers.

“I need a trainer I’m familiar and comfortable with,” said LaTanya Sheffield, defending NCAA champion in the 400-meter hurdles. “In the Pepsi Meet, I had a guy tape me who I didn’t know. It was a total joke. He didn’t know how to do it. For my own confidence, I need one of our trainers.”

Aztec Notes

Don Kaverman, 33, has been named SDSU’s permanent trainer. He has been coordinator of medicine at Ferris State in Big Rapids, Mich., since 1980. John Wadas, 41, has been named associate director of marketing and promotions. Jim Herrick, 31, will be his assistant. . . . Aztec basketball season-ticket holders are being surveyed on whether the team should continue playing in the Sports Arena or have its home games at 4,000-seat Peterson Gym on campus. “That will be decided within the next 10 days,” said Al Luginbill, assistant to Athletic Director Fred Miller. . . . The 1987 Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament will be held at New Mexico. WAC athletic directors decided to have a drawing to determine the tournament’s location. In past years, the regular-season champion always hosted the tournament. Joe Kearney, WAC commissioner, said the new policy is advantageous from planning and economic standpoints.