IHSA News

IHSA to enact Random Steroid and Performance-enhancing Supplement Testing in State Series Competitions 

In January 2008, the Illinois High School Association’s Board of Directors approved a plan developed by the IHSA’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee to implement random testing of teams and individuals qualifying for state finals/state series competition for steroids and performance-enhancing dietary supplements.

Beginning with the 2008-09 school term, any student-athlete who ingests or otherwise uses substances from the association’s banned drug classes, without written permission by a licensed physician to treat a medical condition, violates IHSA By-law 2.170 and its subsections, and is subject to IHSA penalties, including ineligibility from competition. The IHSA will test certain randomly selected individuals within teams that participate in state series competitions for banned substances. Not all teams or all individuals will be selected during each round of competition. The results of all tests shall be considered confidential and shall only be disclosed to the student, his or her parents, and his or her school administration.

No student-athlete may participate in IHSA state series competition unless the student and the student’s parent/guardian consent to random testing. The 2008 Parent Consent Form provides members of the Classes of 2009, 2010 and 2011 and opportunity to provide consent for testing via parent signature.

 Related reading;

 A complete list of the current IHSA Banned Drug Classes can be accessed at

http://www.ihsa.org/initiatives/sportsMedicine/files/IHSA_banned_drug_classes.pdf 

 The IHSA has produced a brochure entitled Distribution of Steroids and Performance Enhancing Dietary Supplements. It can be found at

http://www.ihsa.org/initiatives/sportsMedicine/files/IHSA_banned_list.pdf 

The Illinois High School Association endorses the National Federation of High Schools Position Statement on Supplements.  That document can be accessed at

http://www.nfhs.org/web/2003/11/sports_medicine_nfhs_position_statement_on_supplements.aspx 

Please consult the New Trier Athletic Department at 847/784-2226 if you have questions regarding the IHSA Testing Program for Performance-Enhancing Drugs.