Priest River Tries Out Drug Testing A.D. Says Voluntary Program Is Way To Give Athletic Code More Meaning

Priest River High School athletic director Ron Hopkins said he believes drug testing of athletes is necessary.

But not so much to catch violators. It’s to prove that athletes honor the athletic code.

To that end, Hopkins, also the girls basketball coach, started the first testing program in the Panhandle this winter.

So far, so good, reports Hopkins.

It’s voluntary at this point.

“I’d been hearing rumors that the kids weren’t living by the athletic code,” Hopkins said. “I didn’t think there were many other ways to make the code worthwhile. We need to make a statement to the community that our athletes are clean. All high schools have the same problem. But this could be a way to control it.”

Hopkins said he developed the program after reading about drug testing by the Lewis and Clark High football team.

All 10 of Hopkins’ varsity players volunteered and 10 of 12 junior varsity players also are participating. Not all the volunteer slips have been turned in by boys players at this point, Hopkins said.

Two girls and two boys were tested before the Christmas break. All four tests came back negative, Hopkins said. Two athletes will be tested randomly each week through the spring sports season.

The athletes have been assigned numbers in a computer program and they will be tested as their numbers are drawn.

If the school board grants approval, Hopkins would like to make drug testing mandatory next year.

“I’d heard from some kids and parents that they thought the athletic code was a joke,” Hopkins said. “I want it to have some meaning.”

If an athlete tests positive the athlete faces one of two options: 1) the athlete will be suspended for the rest of the season or 2) the athlete will be suspended for two weeks and must participate in a drug evaluation program.

If an athlete commits a second offense he or she is barred from the present athletic season plus the next two seasons. It’s almost equivalent to a one-year suspension, Hopkins said.

“It’s been accepted favorably,” Hopkins said.

, DataTimes