CIF Expects Hurdles on Steroids

A day after the California Interscholastic Federation passed significant anti-steroid measures, Executive Director Marie Ishida warned that the difficult work was still ahead.

Ishida, wrapping up the Federated Council’s two-day meeting at the Irvine Hilton, said logistical hurdles remained and some resistance to the policies might make them difficult to implement, but that won’t impede her organization from moving forward.

“The easy part was passing these measures,” she said. “Now we need to talk about what’s next.”

The CIF brought in guest speaker Lance Williams, a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency, who said that his organization would work with the CIF to stifle steroid use. The DEA will visit campuses across the state and distribute literature helping school administrators identify steroids and their users.

“We want to send the message that steroids are against the law,” Williams said. “And anyone who does not get on board with these programs might have some [legal] problems.”

The CIF passed rules that will:

* Require anti-steroid policies at member schools.

* Require athletes and their parents to sign a form agreeing not to use steroids unless prescribed by a doctor.

* Require coaches to take classes and learn about steroids and their effects.

* Prohibit schools from accepting sponsors from manufacturers of certain dietary supplements.

Barbara Fiege, commissioner of the Los Angeles City Section, called the meeting historic.

“It takes a long time to build up to the types of changes we made this weekend,” she said. “This was a significant meeting.”

-- Peter Yoon

Softball

Erica Andrews single-handedly delivered the Thousand Oaks tournament Green Division title to Simi Valley Royal, earning most valuable player.

Andrews tripled in a run in the bottom of the eighth inning for the 3-2 victory over Long Beach Millikan. She also singled in a run in the sixth inning.

Royal, ranked No. 3 in the Southland by The Times, had beaten No. 14 Westlake Village Oaks Christian, 2-1, in the semifinals by scoring two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.