Drugs and Sports
|
|
John Lucas abused drugs while an NBA player; now he
fights them. (AP)
|
Part 2: The old college try
With a 'dedication to the ideal of fair and equitable competition' as its driving force, the NCAA has perhaps the best drug program among U.S. sports organizations. Nonetheless, in Part 2 of CBS SportsLine's series on drugs and sports, senior writer Dennis Dodd says a limited budget and daunting logistics mean fewer than 10 percent of NCAA athletes are tested each year. And between the advance notice they are given and the test-beating tricks available, the fact that a consistent one to two percent are found to be positive is misleading. Says an NCAA official: 'The numbers do not reflect usage.'
Part 3: Clean and sober
And now, the good news: Not every sport is haunted by the demons of drug abuse. In Part 3 of CBS SportsLine's series on drugs and sports, staff writer Michael J. Happy says the NHL has largely cleared its ice of the heavy drinking that once plagued some of its stars. On the links, meanwhile, senior writer Mark Soltau says golf is the cleanest of the pro sports, and with good reason: 'I don't think you can go out there under the influence of anything and do any good,' says analyst Roger Maltbie.Part 4: Thrown for a loss
Their bodies are their major assets, but they are also a non-renewable resource. In Part 4 of CBS SportsLine's series on drugs and sports, national columnist Ray Buck wonders why, then, do some NFL players fall heavily into drugs and alcohol? Says former star Thomas 'Hollywood' Henderson, a recovering addict: 'Athletes see themselves as being bulletproof. But you know what? They're not.' That point has been driven home by a long list of players whose careers and lives have been disrupted -- or ended -- by substance abuse.
Passing the test?
Baseball hasn't had a suspension for drug use since 1995, quite a while for a sport that has had its share of problems. But staff writer Ian Browne says there might be more to worry about than meets the eye. Major League Baseball doesn't do random testing, and history suggests it's unlikely the sport is completely clean. Alcohol, the legal drug, remains a concern, too. Says former major-leaguer Dickie Noles, a recovering alcoholic and addict: 'Baseball hasn't done the job they should. They don't want to recognize substance abuse.'Part 5: False start
For many athletes who fall into substance abuse, the pattern starts in their teens -- or earlier. In the final installment of CBS SportsLine's series on drugs and sports, staff writer Mike Lurie says there is evidence high school athletes are becoming more wary of the perils of using drugs such as steroids, but experts are concerned about a growing curiosity in an even younger crowd. And White House 'drug czar' Barry McCaffrey, in an exclusive interview with executive editor Mike Kahn, says professional athletes can play an important role in molding the actions of their young fans.