San Diego St. Player Said to Have Failed Drug Test

Anthony Conyers, San Diego State’s top wide receiver, will not play in the Holiday Bowl Tuesday against Iowa because he tested positive for an unspecified drug, according to two team sources.

John Rosenthal, San Diego State’s sports information director, issued a statement saying that Conyers would not play because of “medical reasons.”

Conyers was the latest of several players to be barred from bowl games this week in connection with the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. drug test. Earlier, Oklahoma’s Brian Bosworth and USC’s Jeff Bregel, among others, were suspended from bowl competition after test results showed they had used steroids.

All 22 San Diego State starters and 14 other players chosen at random were administered drug tests by the NCAA on Dec. 9. School officials said they would keep the test results confidential.

Conyers returned home to Concord, Calif., Friday and could not be reached by phone.

San Diego State Coach Denny Stolz had issued a terse statement at the beginning of a Friday afternoon press conference.

“Because of the confidentiality of drug testing, I’d prefer not to have any questions directed toward the players or me on that,” Stolz said.

Stolz later refused to comment on how Conyers’ absence might affect the Aztecs.

Said Athletic Director Fred Miller: “Any time we view a situation as a medical problem, we treat it as a matter of confidence. Beyond that, we don’t confirm or deny anything. We’re not in business to exploit the problems of young people.”

According to a team source, Miller met with the Aztec coaching staff Thursday night to discuss Conyers’ situation. Though Conyers was in the locker room before practice Friday morning, he left by the time practice began.

Conyers, a senior, is San Diego State’s fourth-leading overall receiver, having caught 27 passes for 507 yards and 3 touchdowns. The top receivers are two running backs and a tight end.

Conyers was a reserve the first seven games, catching 11 passes for 207 yards and 2 touchdowns. In his first two starts, against Colorado State and Wyoming, he caught 13 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown.

San Diego State players were not informed of Conyers’ status until a team meeting held after Friday’s press conference.

“I’m kind of shocked,” fullback Corey Gilmore said. “I didn’t know anything about it. This hurts. Anthony’s a big asset to the team. I think this is a big loss.”

Conyers, 23, came to San Diego State from Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, Calif., where he had caught 40 passes as a sophomore in 1983. He was a redshirt in 1984 because the Aztecs had three veteran returning receivers.

Senior defensive end Roland Barbay tested positive for anabolic steroids and has been ruled ineligible to compete against Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl, Louisiana State University Coach Bill Arnsparger announced.

“Talking to Roland, it is my understanding it is something that happened last spring when he was working on (rehabilitating) his knee,” Arnsparger told the Associated Press.

Barbay said he had been treated with steroids by a physician he contacted about his knee injury, Arnsparger said as the LSU squad checked into its hotel in New Orleans to begin Sugar Bowl preparations. Barbay did not make the trip with the team.

“An appeal has been filed,” Arnsparger said. But he also said he did not know whether the appeal could be acted upon by the NCAA in time to restore Barbay’s eligibility for the New Year’s Day bowl game between fifth-ranked LSU and sixth-ranked Nebraska.