Study Finds Steroid Use Begins at 10

Some boys and girls as young as 10 are taking illegal steroids to do better in sports, according to the first survey to look at use of the bodybuilding drugs as early as fifth grade.

The survey found that 2.7% of 965 youngsters questioned at four Massachusetts middle schools are using anabolic steroids. Experts said that represents a significant problem.

“We have thought that it has been a problem primarily of high school and college students,” said Dr. Robert W. Blum, professor of pediatrics and director of adolescent health at the University of Minnesota.

Besides building muscles, steroids can harm the liver, stunt growth and cause a host of other long-term ailments.

Dr. Charles E. Yesalis, a Penn State expert on steroids, said there was no reason to doubt that the results of the anonymous survey taken with teachers absent were accurate. Yesalis said they were consistent with his observations. “I’m not shocked, I’m sorry to say,” he added.

A major finding was that use among middle-school girls was almost as prevalent as it was among boys. Steroid use was reported by 2.8% of boys and 2.6% of girls.

Boxing

Julio Cesar Chavez, the prosecution’s star witness in promoter Don King’s insurance fraud trial, testified he never signed an allegedly bogus contract submitted to Lloyd’s of London.

Chavez, 35, took the stand in U.S. District Court in Manhattan in a rematch against King, who was first tried two years ago on nine counts of fraud for allegedly ripping off the British insurance company.

During that trial, which ended in a hung jury, Chavez still boxed for King. He has since signed on with rival promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank Boxing.

British Sports Minister Tony Banks rejected renewed calls to ban boxing as bantamweight Spencer Oliver remained in critical condition with brain injuries after being knocked out by Ukrainian Sergei Devakov in the 10th round of their fight Saturday. Oliver, 22, had emergency surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain and is in intensive care.

Tennis

Michael Chang, finally recovered from a knee injury in March, tuned up for the French Open by defeating Germany’s David Prinosil, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, in the second round of the $2.5-million German Open in Hamburg. . . . Rain and heavy wind forced postponement of the opening day at the America’s Red Clay Tennis Championship men’s tournament at Coral Springs, Fla.. . . Rain washed out all 16 opening-day matches at the women’s Italian Open in Rome.

Hockey

France, coached by former U.S. coach Herb Brooks, beat the United States, 3-1, at the World Ice Hockey Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, seriously damaging the Americans’ chances of advancing to the second round. The United States must defeat 1994 Olympic champion Sweden on Wednesday if it hopes to advance to the second round.

Left wing Paul Kariya, sidelined for the Mighty Ducks’ final 28 games with post-concussion syndrome, was cleared to begin light workouts. . . King center Ray Ferraro, 33, underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and is expected to make a full recovery, the team said.

Jurisprudence

Charles Williams, a former point guard suspended for NCAA rules violations at Cincinnati, sued the school, asking for at least $175,000 in damages. Williams was suspended for all but the final six games of last season, alleges that the university was negligent in failing to follow NCAA rules.

A gambler who once went to prison for stealing a mare in foal to Secretariat was charged with trying to fix races at Churchill Downs by stuffing sponges in horses’ noses.

William McCandless, 51, of Hendersonville, Tenn., was indicted on six felony counts for trying to “gain an advantage in gambling on the outcome of the race” in May 1996 and twice in June 1997.

The Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation this year that makes race-horse tampering a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

College Sports

USC will play host to the 12-team National Collegiate Women’s Water Polo Championships beginning Friday, which will include UCLA, Stanford and California.

Names in the News

Gordon Lange, head coach for the U.S. cross-country ski team in the last two Winter Olympics, resigned.

Manhattan Beach sailor John Spriggs, 57, collapsed and died of what appeared to be a heart attack moments before he was to race aboard Don Adams’ boat, White Fang, from Santa Monica Yacht Club in last weekend’s Yachting Cup at San Diego.