SASI full scholarship holders are subject to testing. State players are subject to drug testing as well from when the team is announced and forwarded to BA until the end of the Championship. They attend a seminar the day before the start of the nationals as well. Testing has been carried out by ASDA in the past, I'm not sure whether this body still exists. I assume it does.

SASI and State players are drug tested (or were in my day).

#222879

There was an SA kid drug tested at Nationals the year before last (and in recent years other states too), I wont name them as the player was a jr. But I was involved in that tournament, so yes it does happen.

However they are (very) rare (looking at the ratio of players tested to untested), so I can see how you don't believe they happen. Plus unless there is a positive test, then really, who is going to make a big song and dance about it? Just doesn't make the front page of the advertiser "Junior player tests negative to drugs at national junior championship".

My experience comes from a few years ago so may be out of date. When I did some testing for ASDA (now ASADA) the main concern was the cost of testing (approximately $3-400 test). Given that testing at this level is about having a deterrent effect rather than 'catching' anyone, they will spend their money to create a presence so Juniors will be very rarely tested. Better that juniors know they CAN be tested (because somebody has) rather than pay for the cost of everybody being tested.

My experience is that very few open competitors were actually tested so it is unlikely that many juniors at all will be tested.

What a complete waste of time and resources testing juniors would be.

It's not as stupid as you think Slim. But, like anything, the "Devil is in the detail"

First thing to ask is "what is the objective, and what do you hope to achieve?" Is it a deterrent (which never works), or to protect the child.

Who will be tested? Elite kids, or get 'em in U10s?

What drugs will be tested for? Dope? Well, that would catch a high % of kids in certain areas.

What are you going to do if you catch someone?

what drugs are you interested in?
i would say thc a def + in 3 to 4 out of 20, amphetamines would be in some...1 in 10, but if your talking steroids, i would say 1 in 50 would be +.

imo....ofcourse....
next thing you need to think about is coaches!!!!

U/20s would be major one to test at seeing that they're legal to drink, which brings drugs as well. I'm sure most ppl would be smart enough not to take rec drugs a week before nationals so that it stays in there system.

I've personally never seen or heard anyone get tested at nationals in the last 5 or so years.

thc stays in for much longer than 1 week i can tell you..ecstasy, amphetamines and steroids would be the key look at's, but i would think steroids would be what i would want to know about..on an athletic point of view.

but what are they going to do if they get a + result?

and what are they going to do....kick ppl out of the program, educate, send them to help??

thats all i'm asking...if the afl cant work it out, what makes you think sasi or and other program will solve the problem...

again, you need to identify the drug and treat it? different drugs, different problems...not all drugs are an addiction either....steroids might be used for there need to get bigger/better/rehab...

now u tell me what they are going to test for and the treatment proposed and then see where your heading...coz some times ppl just want to name names and do jack shit to help, or resolve issues!

No coach in australia is involved in drug testing as that is the legal requirement, asada can test any SASI athlete they want. Give them a call and ask them what they are doing, players that are drug tested according to asada rules for what is a required drug

I really don't see the point in drug testing juniors. Let the powers that be spend the money on something useful....like another Ivory back scratcher, or something.