Marijuana Policy Project

MT. HOLLY, N.C. Schools across the state might soon be randomly drug testing student athletes. That's if a bill proposed by a Gaston County state Senator passes. If so, it'll likely go into effect next year.

From the pros, all the way down to high school sports, athletes say there's a pressure to get big and it's growing.

Dexter Crosby and Cameron Sealey play multiple sports at East Gaston High School. They say steroid use isn't huge at their school but they know it does go on.

"Mostly football players that go to college to play, they use it over the summer between high school and college," Sealey said.

Crosby added, "I haven't personally seen it happen around East Gaston that much, but I've heard people talk about it."

That could be because in 1999, Gaston County Schools became one of the first to pass a random alcohol and drug abuse policy for athletes.

"They can be tested for drugs at any given time when they're participating in sports and I think from that standpoint, it does discourage kids from using drugs,” said East Gaston High Girls Basketball Coach Ernie Bridges.

Sen. James Forrester (R-Gaston) wants every school in North Carolina to follow Gaston County's lead. He introduced a bill earlier this week in the state legislature that would require random drug tests statewide.

"If they're found positive they would lose their right to participate in athletics at any school," Sen. Forrester explained.

In the end, should the bill pass, Sen. Forrester says the State Board of Education would determine how the tests are administered and what the punishments would be.

"If the State Board of Education follows through with my recommendations, it would be a deterrent from athletes taking steroids,” Sen. Forrester added.

Students at East Gaston say the county's drug testing policy has been effective. They say it's kept most students honest and more importantly, healthy.

"It's just not about the sports or anything like that,” Crosby said. “It's about your whole life. It can ruin your life."

Crosby says steroids can ruin a game and a statewide law would cut down on cheating and level the playing field.

Mecklenburg County currently does not have a drug and alcohol testing policy, but they say it's something they've discussed in the past.