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I Sports .* 3 THE GAMECOCK Wednesday, February 17, 1988 j] Testing recruits befor could aid athletes, co USC athlctic department officials about to be tested a Monday did what they were expected These two facto to do. athlete ammunition They defended the school's drug tests and the notice testing policy at a press conference at ready for them. Williams-Brice Stadium. Altering this test And yet, USC, like many other effective could onl> major colleges, has seen its athletic user that already program hurt by drug problems. scholarship, though A little more than two months But the NCAA co Jlftpr I I9r cfnrtino rcntpr Wnnrlu tO holn universities Myers was denied a chance to play in from getting on tl the Gator Bowl because of testing recruits for drugs 1 positive for steroids, wide receiver college scholarship Ryan Bethea was arrested on cocaine should be explored, charges. There are advan With the graduation of All- vantages to instituti America wingback Sterling Sharpe, The NCAA mighi Bethea was to be counted on heavily jor stumbling block to provide depth at his position. program. Instpari hp hac hppn hanrlpH an in. It mioht also cav definite suspension. being treated unfair Then on Feb. 13, less than 10 days they be subjected t< after Bethea's arrest, Rico Leroy to enter college wh< Marshall, a Gamecock recruit, died tive students don't? after swallowing crack apparently to These arc just a f< avoid detection by police. problems this systei There is no obvious evidence of a But there would 1 drug problem for the whole First, a drug test Gamecock football team. But just as would give univers easily as any other group of college members an indicat students can become wrapped up in this recruit is taking rlrno ahntc atlilptpc rrmlrl If a nrr?hlpirt is rl To avoid this, a drug testing pro- 18-year-old hasn't gram has been instituted. life because of drug Gamecock football players are time to do somel submitted to announced and random problem. drug tests. j^e unjversj(y w They are given a brochure outlm- WQrry about ,he $h ing how long certain drugs stay in the rassment a drug sea b,??<! st""ean]- as a result of havinj This brochure could be problem user on thc tcam . could go to an ath Why give any athlete the Use drugs, knowledge of how to deal with the drug test? Unfortunately, i Why notify athletes that they are Marshall. niHMiHM wrrn o< 8 [r?z -si Crisp s Long 5 InMM M 11 i Start 01 i Silvers. .rz \ - you ca fj f SEAFOOD i SHQPPE l\ ~ WEST I" LIMITED TIME ONLY I J USC officia w I By KAY BUSH I bjt Staff writer noti JLM\> The recent drug-related arrest of atlil USC wide receiver Ryan Bethea has altei brought the university's drug-testing the innfnn program under fire. B ? The death of Rico Marshall, a testi USC recruit, after swallowing several at hi chunks of the cocaine derivative crack Saturday has worsened the " blow. pra m w wit I But despite the criticisms of USC's "W ?? a ItJMlUg (JIVJ?lUIIi, /VUIH.UL I/I I ^VIUI 11 ?2 Hr&PV Marcum said l^e testing pro- son gram instigated by the athletic son department is successful. or t it all? "I don't know of any other school ^ rs oniy give the in the country that has tested their . to beat the drug athletes as much as we have," Marthey need to get cum said. "While we realize our program is certainly not infallible, we " to make it more believe it is a benefit to our student che ' hinder the drug athlete." use has a college What has brought the testing pro- ath gram under fire is the announcing of ave uld do something testing dates and times three to four of stop drug users days in advance. Critics of prior test ic team. Testing icfore they a tages and disad- wRSkJj ng such a system. j^' [ list cost as a ma- M _ *1 * ; are ? why ^V ?/ ^~\.: a drug jM 1 jMV Pf^P other prospec- |?r 4|^MF jflHBnrijnBMi^pj ew of the obvious ' u might face. be advantages. at this early stage jE'y' iities and family ^ Hi fh ion as to the path ? Wfofr- . >' letected, a 17- or ^Kfedei&&. jfK&MtiBtSjmr jm wasted an <^r.A s. He would have thing about the ilete that doesn't USC receiver Ryan Bethea, shown here t t's too late tor The 6-foo(-4-inch Bethea was later "indefin 11, ,ii pii ^' KM^OM Tl V _ l'? TT^* 1_ ti ly nreaaea risn EAT $3.69 SUNDAYS ONLY | 1 ut with three Crispy Breaded fish fillets savory seasoning, thick-tut fryes, fresh f . hi and hushpuppies. After that ? it's all j_; n eat! Offer good for a limited time ? 5 in eat-in orders only. Feast on it! 5 * i ON HWY 378 NEAR 1-26 | ?* I I lis defend drug-to ce before testing contend that Akers added that druj ctcs given warning are able to not all the program does. r their lifestyles in order to pass 44~ . . 1 'Our program is a urinalysis. . , ,, A . . ... . UIUKIUII1, * i ut Marcum said prior-notice . . K .. ' ... i . ? .i Certainly the side that s ing is not tlie only testing the USC ., ... .. .. ... . the publicity, the most n etic department requires. . . . . .. , the substance-abuse side. We have pulled athletes off the What he ,hinks is equ dice field and tested them (an( js tjie t tjic prc lout prior notice, Marcum said. ing with thc athlctes. ,e re not about to put together a voIvemcnts such as ing program that is based on volvemen,s with other stu le farce. If so, we would do like fear Qf academic failure, le institutions and only test once management skius and tl w.ce a year and forget about it." ,jon from family and frie athletic ohvsician Dr. Paul Akers 1 the main emphasis of the pro- , A"olncr T?' ha: m is to help the athletes. the heat on the USC test, is a pamphlet distributed i don't intend to go out and dent athletes that suposse ck the bushes to try to find drug the athletes on how to rs," Akcrs said. He also said test. The pamphlet, U letes arc tested randomly on an Control Program: Que rage of 10 times, with two or three Answers, was distributed the tests announced prior to the dent athletes this past dates. prior to a drug test givei at ' ^8 Slg ryinn to catch u pass in 1986 against Georgia, was arrested Fe itely suspended" from the team by head coach Joe Morrison in How to st g^jS&& -v.- . < -J& , Vttm, 11 18111 _ h . ; 1 W*** ig "' I8L bmkB Im ^Lt^ '1^1 esting policy ; testing is month. The brochure was researched and published by the United States Olympic Committee. '0 ,n athlete- lint \y1arr-iim nnpctinnc fhr kkers said: accusations. \ got most of otoricty, is "Believe me. J don't think the NCAA and the United States Olympic Committee is interested in ally impor- developing material to tell the )gram deal- athlete, 'This is how you beat the other in- test.' 1 just don't think that is the their in- purpose and certainly not the pur- ji, dents, their pose of this document." their timeleir scpara- Marshall's death displayed the nds. dangers of athletes involved with n..< i itr oil ui uga. iJUi uovy iiluu luuiuau vuavu s turned up Joe Morrison said he had no idea of ng program the recruit's drug involvement. to USC studly informs "There was no indication what- Js "beat" the soever," Morrison said. "In fact, we SOC Drug got the impression ? and I think stions and rightly so ? Rico was an outstanto the stu- ding, not only athlete, but individual. November "We missed it. His parents missed n that same it as well." km.iHw jfi^ mgg j Uwm jjjjj JHigwVidiKUMHManc fMOBsms hit Hhoto b. 4 when police said they found drugs in his car. connection with the allegations. and out i i crowa. '["he American Express* Card gets an outstanding welcome virtually anywhere you shop, whether it's for a leather jacket or a leather-bound classic. Whether you're bound for a bookstore or a f>each in Bermuda. So during college and after, it's the perfect way to pay for just about ^ everything you'll want. M How to get the Card now. ' fnllpop k tlw> firsi ciim nf surras And heranse we believe in your potential, we've mack it easier ^ to get the American Express Card right now. Ik Whether you're a freshman, senior or ^ grail student, look into our new automatic '.l gn approval offers. For details, pick up an K application on campus. _ Wk Or call 1-800-THE-CARD and ask for .H& a student application. IBBI? American Express Card. B Don't Uave School Without It9" W 'r WJ /