Coach’s Pills Prove to Be Non-Narcotic

Tests on pills reportedly supplied to several players on the Moorpark High football team by an unpaid assistant coach indicate the substances are non-narcotic, a Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman said Friday.

Analysis by the county crime laboratory showed that the substances are niacin and salt tablets. Both are legal, non-controlled substances. Niacin is an over-the-counter vitamin supplement.

Larry Preston, 22, reportedly distributed the pills to 11 players at several games this season, according to police. Investigators said Preston did not tell the players what the substances were, only that they would help their game performance.

Preston, who lives in Simi Valley, was unavailable for comment Friday.

Early next week, police--who have not filed charges in the case--will send the results of the investigation to the county district attorney’s office to determine whether there were any violations of the law.

“We’re dealing with kids over 14 years of age,” Lt. Jim Koontz said. “Most of the health and safety codes or child-endangerment statutes make a distinction at that age. It’ll be left up to the D.A.”

The pill samples tested were supplied to sheriff’s investigators by Preston after Moorpark school officials called investigators Oct. 13, the date Preston was dismissed. Despite the results, Preston will not be allowed to work with the team, school officials said.

“He will definitely not be back as an assistant,” Moorpark school Supt. Mike Slater said. “We have very strict rules about the administering of drugs to students.”

Said Koontz: “We have a few more things we need to draw together before we send it to the D.A. We’re still trying to establish whether there were any other types of pills distributed.”

Slater said the school board will discuss a revision of policy regarding hiring of volunteer coaches at a meeting Tuesday.