Lc’s Perfect Drug-Testing Streak Broken
Lewis and Clark still has a pretty good batting average but unfortunately for the Tigers, some players made an out.
Several weeks ago, more than one LC football player tested positive in the school’s ground-breaking drug-testing program.
“It was more than one, it was one week (they were caught) and they were suspended (from the team) for two weeks,” LC coach John Hook said. “They had to complete a drug intervention class in that two weeks. They were re-tested at the end of the suspension period and they were all clean.”
LC players asked for the program before the season. District 81 approved and in cooperation with Deaconess Hospital, three players are tested every Monday.
“There was a lot of disappointment, the team had been let down by teammates,” Hook said. “By now, we have tested … more than 60 percent of the team and several were tested twice.
“I think that any time we make a commitment there needs to be some form of accountability. And I still think going back to the original purpose, the fact some guys got caught makes it a more valuable tool for refusal skills.”
The LC suspensions happened before Hoquiam High cancelled its football season last week with three games remaining because a majority of the team admitted to violating portions of the athletic code pertaining to the use of alcohol and drugs.
Among the games lost was Hoquiam’s final game against Aberdeen. The two teams have played every year since 1920, the longest continuous rivalry in the state.
LC’s future participation in the drug-testing program won’t be decided until later.
In the meantime, LC can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Central Valley Friday.
“Our team doesn’t want to be defined as the team that drug tested this year,” Hook said. “We feel that is just one thing the team has done this year to try to be successful. We’re going into the last two weeks trying to finish second. Hopefully, we’ll be remembered as a team that played hard. This was just one small area.”
, DataTimes