Crackdown on school drug cheats

 Schoolboy-Derby-on-KEO

Crackdown on school drug cheats

21 Jan 2013

Schoolboy rugby players caught doping could be suspended for three months or more or face expulsion.

The Cape Argus reports that a new testing programme launches on Monday, spearheaded by the SA Institute of Drug-Free Sport (Saids), which aims to eradicate a growing trend of steroid and drug use among teenagers in schools.

‘The testing will occur at any time and will not only be limited to athletes,’ said Saids chief executive Khalid Grant.

Substances that will be prohibited according to the programme include diuretics (which mask the presence of performance-enhancing drugs by flushing them out of the system), stimulants and steroids. Around 100 of South Africa’s top schools have signed up for the programme that will allow a school’s principle or Saids delegate to test any pupil suspected of doping.

According to Rapport, 18 out of 62 children independently tested in the past six months had positive results for drugs so dangerous they could lead to death.

Click here for SA Rugby magazine’s article on why schoolboy rugby players who take performance-enhancing drugs are playing a dangerous game


304 Comments

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  • 1.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 07:04 am

    Rife in rugby would be my guess…..

  • 2.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 07:19 am

    I chat to guys in the gym, it’s all over the place.

  • 3.halfgk: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 07:49 am

    3 months not enough. If it is really used as much as it appears, a couple of examples need to be made. Expulsion. Or at the very least a year with regular test done after that.

  • 4.Stoetbul9: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 07:53 am

    My question is, who will fund all these tests? It does not come cheap so I doubt that they will test regularly. The schools are not going to spend too much money on this and the smaller unions neither.

  • 5.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 07:56 am

    Well I know that in the Cape this is doing the rounds and the head of Rugby for Paarl Boys High has apparently insisted that his whole team gets tested,

    Practically it does pose a problem though.

  • 6.ufo: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 08:08 am

    kudos all round for addressing this problem and trying to put plans in place to combat it…

    i can only wish them every success…

  • 7.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 08:13 am

    18 out of 62 were tested positive??
    That is a huge percentage.,

  • 8.Tankman: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 08:17 am

    This is such a necessary initiative … I was in the gym over the holidays and over heard 2 schoolboys talking very matter of factly about how they “Just took roids for a few weeks over the off season to build some extra muscle” …

  • 9.The Rangerman: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 08:41 am

    @Tankman-8: there was another case of an oke hanging around schoolboys in the gym.

    didnt turn out well.

  • 10.The Rangerman: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 08:43 am

    just kidding eh tankman.

    anyone named tankman is, much like rocketman, machinegunman and jetfighterman, not to be messed with.

  • 11.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 08:44 am

    @The Rangerman-9:
    lmga
    :lol:

  • 12.Brads: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 08:45 am

    @Tankman-8:
    Wow, that is sad.

    I don’t know if it goes on in NZ, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t.

    Young players these days come through the academy route rather than selection from club to rep team. So anything that makes them stand above other players for selection would be very tempting.

    Particularly Caucasian Kiwi lads vying for recognition ahead of the Island boys. They seem to physically mature and bulk up far earlier than anyone else on the planet.

  • 13.Tankman: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 08:47 am

    @The Rangerman-9: Too funny … Do tend to stay away from the steam rooms … Just to put your mind at reast :)

  • 14.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 08:56 am

    :D

    Good stuff Rangerman.

  • 15.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 08:57 am

    @The Rangerman-10:

    Tankman prolly Tank Lanning

  • 16.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 08:58 am

    Now I have a valid excuse to avoid the gym, dangerous places that. Luckily I am in shape ever since someone mentioned that round is a shape. :-)

  • 17.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:03 am

    Drugs a huge issue in school sport.

    That combined with producing false IDs

    But the aim is the same: to gain an unfair advantage

    It seems like everything is always one big fat lie

  • 18.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:06 am

    Someone should contact Oprah and tell her to get a bigger studio.
    Doubt if all these kids will fit onto her current couch.

  • 19.ufo: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:08 am

    great banter here…

    @Sheriff-15:

    it is he…

    part of the keo kenners klub now… :wink:

  • 20.Brads: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:09 am

    @Sheriff-17:
    False ID’s?

    Are you saying schools are knowingly putting out teams with ringers in the squad, or are these individuals working the system?

  • 21.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:18 am

    @Brads-20:

    Indivs working the system

    Low appetite for schools to investigate as these ‘athletes’ improve their – that is: the school’s head of sport’s performance.

    Costly to investigate, approximately R1500 per investigation if memory serves me right

    Always appear to be ‘sour grapes’ – if you step forward and suggest an investigation the response is (never articulated but private thoughts): Mr/Mrs So and so, you need to accept the fact that your child will not always be the winner

  • 22.@KhumieM: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:26 am

    This subject is long overdue! All of that can’t be all natural! I can already feel the self esteem being renewed on the stands :D

  • 23.Brads: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:27 am

    @Sheriff-21:
    Okay, the issue here is resources to ferret out the ID cheats, that is fair.

    A bit of an alien concept here in NZ where we have 1/10 SA population and everyone is a nosy butt hole about their neighbours lives.

  • 24.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:30 am

    I have witnesses parents paying ‘agents’ outside my gym, and taking the packages, whilst Junior stands next to dad with a doff look on his mug.

    This is all so open and ‘out there’, I honestly don’t get the ‘shock and awe’ from some quarters…..

  • 25.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:31 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-24: witnessed

  • 26.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:31 am

    @Brads-23:

    So you saying NZ does not have this problem?

  • 27.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:32 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-25:
    We have had some poor “daddy agents” in our past haven’t we?

  • 28.Brads: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:34 am

    @Sheriff-26:
    ID issues at school level – correct.

  • 29.gunther: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:37 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-24:

    You should have made a citizen’s arrest angel.

  • 30.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:41 am

    @Brads-28:

    Your screening prolly better

    Parents come into the country, say from random country Z

    Have a kid with DOB 15 Jan 1998 but then change the year to 1998 or even 2000 and simply pay corrupt official R500 for their trouble

    At one time 50 corrupt home affairs officials suspended/fired so hard to determine the full scope of problem

    So anyone can see the discrepancy with the kid – clearly bigger or more mature but you cannot prove it for reasons outlined above

    How many south africans in NZ as at end 2012?

  • 31.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:42 am

    Change the year to 1999 or even 2000

  • 32.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:43 am

    @gunther-29: Why? For a dude to get a R500-00 fine, and his 7 connections around the corner continue in any event?

    I did kick up a huge fuss with the gym though…..as one of the PT’s was dating the ‘alleged’ supplier.

    To be honest, I reckon that within 5 minutes, I could find you 15 suppiers for whatever it is you need. Everyone in the gym knows who to ask…..and who to contact…..

    Until there is far larger ‘crackdown’, citizen’s arrests are bit a waste of time….(remembering that our forensics lab would take 7 years to test the substances in any event…….)

  • 33.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:46 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-32:

    ‘Everyone in the gym knows’

    So we can I speak to, or contact ?

  • 34.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:48 am

    @gunther-29:

    So would you have arrested yourself?

    Stop supplying these to the kids mate.

  • 35.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:49 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-32:
    It’s a banned substance in sport not an illegal substance.
    Wont even end up on a docket and definitely no conviction.

  • 36.gunther: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:50 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-32:

    All it takes for evil to prosper is for good women to do nothing

    :lol:

  • 37.gunther: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:53 am

    @Sheriff-33:

    You are beyond pharmaceutical help.

  • 38.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:57 am

    @gunther-37:

    I asked you nicely to stop supplying these.

    Stop rationalising by saying that ‘everybody does it’

    That’s not true you know.

  • 39.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 09:59 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-32:

    Just tryin’ to brighten up your day with post 33 :lol:

  • 40.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:01 am

    @Sheriff-33: It’s an open secret. And any gym regular or person moving in any sort of fitness/sport circles will confirm this.

    @nortierd-35: There we go :)

    @gunther-36: To be honest. If an adult wants to use…..he/she makes the decision for himself/herself and I couldn’t be bothered. However: when teens/young adults (for whom these substances are most toxic/harmful) are ‘stacking’ with adults supervising and egging them on – well…….that does not sit well with me.

  • 41.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:01 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-32: Yip we all know who to talk to if you are looking for something. I could get a handful of doctors I know to prescribe testosterone (Sustanon or Depo T) me in a heartbeat. Totally legally. Then go to the Pharmacy and get it.

    Whether I use it or give it to my son is another matter.

  • 42.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:01 am

    @Sheriff-39: :) Thanking you kindly sir.

  • 43.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:03 am

    PAGAD:

    People Against Gunther And Drugs

  • 44.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:10 am

    So if everyone is doing drugs out there, what is the real issue behind the Lance Armstrong saga?

    If everyone is using/doing/knowing about it, why is it so important for everyone to condemn him?

  • 45.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:13 am

    Everyone isn’t doing it. Some are and they should be banned as cheats.

    Simple.

  • 46.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:15 am

    @stormersboy-45:

    So Armstrong the only one using it in cycling?

  • 47.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:17 am

    @Sheriff-44: As I have said before, Lance is still the legitimate Tour de France utimate champ of champs.
    He is also, and will always be one of the finest athletes of our time.

    He was the finest cyclist on the planet – doped or not. If the doping gave him such an advantage, why didn’t the other 250 doped up members of the peloton record the times and victories he did?
    All the others had the same ‘alleged’ advantages as what he had……yet they couldn’t come close.

    Facts….. :)

    Enter ET stage right?

  • 48.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:21 am

    @Sheriff-46: Where did I say that?

    If you have a question, by all means ask it, but me saying that everyone isn’t doing performance enhancing drugs does not mean that, by extension, only 1 person is doing it.

    As for Armstrong, he needs to be condemned not just for cheating, but for systematically undermining the whole organization of cycling by bribing, coercing and bullying cyclists, officials and the press for years.

  • 49.gunther: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:23 am

    Driebal is going to be all over this like white on rice.

  • 50.CharlesM: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2013, 10:28 am

    The use of banned substances are not confined to the so-called rugby schools only. My son knows boys in another school that had taken illegal substances during the previous year – some of it injected as well !! None of them were close to the WP teams!! This is quite scary IMO !!

    Some non-rugby players are also using it “simply to look better”

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