U.S. Swimmers to Face Testing for Steroids

America’s top 150 swimmers will face random, off-season testing for steroids for the first time starting next year, the sport’s ruling body said Saturday.

The U.S. Swimming Federation’s House of Delegates, at a meeting in Bloomington, Minn., tabled a proposal that would have awarded prize money to medalists at Olympic and other major international competitions.

The United States is the first major swimming power to require off-season testing for performance-enhancing drugs, according to federation spokesman Jeff Dimond.

In the past, U.S. swimmers have been tested for drugs only during major competitions. United States track athletes have faced similar off-season testing for several years.

The swimmers will be given 48 hours notice of a test and will be tested only for steroids.