IHSA Announcements

April 21, 2009

Winter Performance-Enhancing Drug Testing Results Presented To IHSA Board

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) became one of three state high school associations in the country to test for performance-enhancing drugs with the implementation of the IHSA Performance-Enhancing Drug Testing Program earlier this school year.

IHSA Assistant Executive Director Kurt Gibson, who oversees the program, presented the IHSA Board of Directors with an update on the results of the winter sports testing at the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2009.

Gibson reported that 178 athletes were tested in five sports (bowling, basketball, wrestling, swimming, competitive cheer) during the winter, representing 26 percent of the total number of tests that will be conducted during the school year. All 178 students were tested for stimulants, while 88 of those students were also tested for anabolic steroids. 177 of the 178 students came back with negative results, while the one student who tested positive was granted a medical exemption.

Overall, 442 students have been tested this school year, representing 66 percent of all testing that will be conducted. 334 students have been tested for stimulants, while 196 students were tested for anabolic steroids. The seven students who tested positive in the fall and winter were granted medical exceptions for this year. For reporting purposes, these results are considered positive, even though no penalty was assessed to any individual or school.

“Our membership has done a tremendous job in implementing our drug testing program this year,” said Gibson. “Their support for and cooperation with this initiative has enabled this first year to run smoothly. Based on the positive feedback from our schools and testing results, we believe that our testing program is successfully serving as a deterrent for student-athletes in Illinois.”

ACTION ITEMS                                                                                            

  1. The Board approved a recommendation to provide an expense allowance for the Board and staff members at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Chicago from June 27-July 2, 2009.
  2. The Board approved a recommendation to extend the contracts of the Assistant Executive Directors.

ELIGIBILITY HEARINGS

  1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling in regard to the forfeiture of varsity girls basketball contests by Bartlett High School due to the use of an ineligible player. The student was originally ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 6.021.
  2. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Streamwood. The student was originally ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.045. The Executive Director will review the ruling if the school is able to provide additional documentation related to the transfer.
  3. The Board modified the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Bartlett. The student was originally ruled ineligible for the remainder of the 2008-09 and entire 2009-10 school years for non-compliance with IHSA By-laws 3.031.1 and 6.021. The Executive Director will review the student’s eligibility status for the 2009-10 school year after receiving documentation regarding residency and assignment of guardianship.
  4. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Champaign (Centennial). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.045. The Executive Director will review the ruling if the school is able to provide additional documentation related to the transfer.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action is taken. The following is a report of those items from the March 21, 2009, agenda:

  1. The IHSA Board honored Chillicothe (Illinois Valley Central) head baseball coach Jerry Rashid at the meeting, presenting him with his 2008 NFHS Coaches Association National Baseball Coach of the Year plaque.
  2. The Executive Director updated the Board on the NFHS Summer Meeting. The 2009 Summer Meeting will take place in Chicago, where the IHSA staff and Board will help host some Summer Meeting events.
  3. The Executive Director updated the Board on the Financial Action Team and Growth Action Team meetings, which were held on March 31 and April 16, respectively.
  4. The Executive Director updated the Board on the Association’s financial picture from 2002 to the present.
  5. The Board discussed key provisions of the Baden ball agreement. Baden will become the official IHSA State Series ball in eight sports beginning in the 2009-10 school year.
  6. The Board discussed the seating layout for the fans of competing schools at the Boys Basketball State Finals.
  7. The Board discussed rotating the Class schedule at the Girls Basketball State Finals.
  8. Board members Jim Woodward and Vicki King requested that the basketball state tournament series structure be placed on the June Board meeting agenda for review.