Cocaine Used by Conyers : SDSU Receiver Admits Drug Test Was Positive

Anthony Conyers, a starting wide receiver for San Diego State banned from playing in the Holiday Bowl, confirmed Saturday that he had tested positive for cocaine.

He is the first NCAA player banned from postseason play for having cocaine, which can remain in the body for about two weeks, in his system. Several other players have been banned for testing positive for anabolic steroids.

All 22 SDSU starters and 14 reserves picked at random were administered drug tests by the NCAA on Dec. 9. Conyers was the only Aztec to test positive and be barred from Tuesday’s Holiday Bowl against Iowa.

Conyers said the drugs in his system were consumed “days before” the tests. Conyers said he knew players would be tested for drugs, but he was uncertain of the exact date.

“This is something that shouldn’t have happened,” Conyers said from his home in Concord, Calif. “For a while, my priorities lapsed. I was irresponsible and made a mistake. You have to live your own life and not do what others do when you get a little pressure. When you’re with a lot of people and they do something and you get caught up in the action, sometimes you don’t think like you should.”

SDSU officials refused comment on Conyers’ admission.

“Even if Anthony has something to say, that’s his option,” Athletic Director Fred Miller said. “We respect that. From an institutional standpoint, we are best served if we say, ‘No comment.’ ”

Miller reiterated that any SDSU athlete who tests positive for drugs will be suspended from athletic competition for 90 days. Conyers, a senior, would have competed in his final SDSU event in the Holiday Bowl.

Conyers said he discussed the situation with his father Saturday morning.

“He told me he tested positive for drugs,” Joseph Conyers said. “I guess I might’ve went a little berserk, if you want to call it that. I couldn’t understand. I asked him if the test was right or if the results were possibly wrong. He didn’t admit to them being wrong.

“We’ve talked about these things from time to time, especially with the Len Bias and Don Rogers (who both died from a cocaine overdose) situations. This hit me in the head so hard that it still physically hurts. I don’t have many headaches. I have one that won’t go away now.”

According to Joseph Conyers, Anthony will discuss the situation with his older sister, Julia, a Seattle psychologist.

“Under no circumstances can anything like this jeopardize your life’s work,” Joseph Conyers said. “How can you do something like this? It’s such an asinine thing to get involved in. I told him if he went someplace where that stuff was, he should have taken the hell off. I don’t see how he could allow this. I haven’t recovered from this, and I don’t know if or when I will. I just told my daughter a few minutes ago that I think I’ll wake up and this will be a bad dream.”

Anthony Conyers is SDSU’s fourth-leading receiver, with 27 receptions for 507 yards and 3 touchdowns. He has caught more passes than any other Aztec wide receiver.

Conyers said he learned Friday morning he had tested positive when he met with Miller and Coach Denny Stolz.

“I’m disappointed in myself,” Conyers said. “I’ve let a lot of people down. I’m sorry I let down all the people who were counting on me.”

Conyers, a criminal justice major, needs 30 units to graduate. He said he plans to attend SDSU in the spring.

“Coach Stolz said he wanted me to come back and finish school,” Conyers said. “He said he’s not going to hold this against me. These things just happen.”

Stolz has told Aztec players not to comment on Conyers’ situation.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” defensive lineman Levi Esene said. “I can’t comment on the situation. He’s a key player. It’s a shame.”

Said guard Doug Aronson: “We don’t know anything about it. I have no idea what’s up. The game itself has to pull us together. Everyone knows what’s at stake. We have to rally to make up for this.”

Joseph Conyers is hoping his son will learn a lesson. “I told him it’s not the end of his life,” Joseph said. “He certainly blew a big chunk of it.”