Schools get power against steroids
Parliament has discussed draft amendments for improved testing and sanctioning of school pupils in an attempt to eliminate the used of performance-enhancing drugs.
The Department of Basic Education and the Department of Sport & Recreation briefed parliament on draft changes to the South African Schools Act that will facilitate random drug testing at schools, with recommended sanctions for those caught using steroids and banned stimulants. This will make South Africa the first country in the world where random steroids testing of minors in schools is allowed .
Dr Glen Hagemann is the director of the SharkSmart programme that has driven a strong anti-steroid message into 23 high schools in KwaZulu-Natal for more than a decade, under the mantra “Play Safe Play Fair” and is a member of the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport’s disciplinary committee. He said of this recent development: “These proposed changes to the current legislation are essential.
“While there has been widespread support in KwaZulu-Natal for the principle of testing school pupils for steroid use and performance enhancing substances, fundamental stumbling blocks in the law have made this difficult to implement in the manner that was envisaged.
“These proposed changes to the SA Schools Act will effectively remove those stumbling blocks and allow us to treat school pupils similarly to senior athletes.
“For many of us that have been working hard to deal counter the problem of steroid use by school pupils, this is a huge step in the right direction. This will place South Africa right at the forefront of dealing with the problem of steroid use amongst teenage athletes worldwide.”
Fahmy Galant, the General Manager of the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport (SAIDS), which has its headquarters in Newlands, said: “It is a huge stepping stone. It finally gives us jurisdiction over the schools that we lacked with the current initiative.
“We had to get special permission from the World Anti-Doping Agency to take this step. While there may be some that are still sceptical about it, we are confident that this will make a big difference. Ideally this will act as a deterrent to the pupils who are thinking about using steroids.”
Galant confirmed that the current SAIDS steroids testing programme by nomination was still continuing in KwaZulu-Natal, where he said there was excellent support from high schools.
Last year SharkSmart and SAIDS launched the steroid-testing programme that centred on the 23 KwaZulu-Natal high schools participating in the SharkSmart programme that involved planned testing by consent of nominated athletes for steroids use.
This week’s briefing to Parliament’s portfolio committees outlined important amendments proposed to the Schools Act that will pave the way not only for the scheduled tests for steroid usage but also for random surprise tests throughout the year.
If the working groups have their way, the draft amendments will be tabled in Parliament for approval early next year.
SAIDS will distribute guidelines for sanctions to the schools, which will ultimately be responsible for sanctioning pupils caught using steroids. Sanctions for such transgressions have not been determined yet and will be an important part of the consultative process.
Galant said: “The intention is to educate and rehabilitate the school pupil, not end a sporting career."
He also confirmed that little change is envisaged to the SA Schools Act clauses that protect the confidentiality of the minor being tested, even if that test comes back positive.
The Department of Basic Education has stressed that the latest initiative will balance punishment with education of pupils, parents, coaches, teachers and governing bodies and, where necessary, the rehabilitation of offenders.
Research conducted by SharkSmart in recent years has highlighted the prevalence of steroid usage in high schools, with a significant proportion of that steroid use not aimed at improving athletic performance but rather for cosmetic purposes as boys “bulk up” their physiques.
