AUSTIN — As expected, The National Center for Drug Free Sport, Inc. has been selected to conduct the University Interscholastic League Anabolic Steroid Testing Program for 2007-08 and 2008-09, the UIL announced Tuesday.

After a formal bidding process, the UIL considered all proposals submitted and selected The National Center for Drug Free Sport, Inc., also known as Drug Free Sport, to conduct the UIL Anabolic Steroid Testing Program mandated by Senate Bill 8.

“We are excited about Drug Free Sport conducting what is slated to be the largest steroid testing program in the country, and the first of its kind for high school students,” Dr. Charles Breithaupt, UIL Assistant Director and Director of Athletics, said in a statement. “We look forward to working closely with Drug Free Sport in implementing a first-class steroid testing program that we feel will be a model for other states and organizations to follow.

“With their past experience in testing NCAA student-athletes for many years, and conducting high school steroid testing programs in other states, we are confident that Drug Free Sport is the right company to carry out thismassive testing program.” 

Senate Bill 8, passed by the 80th Texas Legislature, and signed into law by Governor Rick Perry in June 2007, mandates that the UIL conduct random steroid testing of high school athletes in grades 9-12 at approximately 30 percent of UIL member schools and sample a significant number of students.

The UIL Legislative Council approved the final protocol for the 2007-08 school year and that protocol was given its final approval by the Commissioner of Education Jan. 14.
 
The testing program is set to begin within weeks, though there is no set date for the first test.

All testing dates will be unannounced.

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