Two

Last year the Texas House and Senate passed a bill mandating the steroid testing of High School athletes who participate in UIL sponsored programs. The results of the first round of testing are back, and so far the $6 million program has caught exactly two students students-out of 10,117 tested-using steroids. The impetus for the program was the result largely of stories like these, that perpetuated the idea that Texas high schools were overrun with steroid abuse. The testing did not begin until this past February, and so was not in effect during the seasons of major sports in Texas like football, thus missing chances to catch kids who take steroids only during the season. Testing will resume this fall, but unless the testing results in more kids getting caught using steroids, it will be hard to justify the expense of a program that may exist more in response to hype than anything.