a Division 1 Athlete on a full ride. There is no mandatory drug testing policy for community college athletes, and each university and/or school district is empowered to take action. In
             order to get a perspective of how performance enhancing drugs are handled at the
             community college level, I interviewed American River College track coach Bill Allen.
             I asked coach Allen about American River College’s drug policy and about his
             experience on the subject. His time at American River has seen only minor drug problems,
             but Allen recalls many instances when he had suspicions that athletes were using drugs. At
             the beginning of every track season, Allen has each athlete sign a waiver pleading to
             refrain from the use of drugs during the season. The waiver is put on file and is referred to
             whenever there is a problem. When an athlete is suspected of using drugs, coach Allen will
             notify the athletic director and arrange a meeting with the director and the athlete to
             discuss a solution. “Since there is no mandatory drug testing for us, we deal with athletes
             on a case by case basis, and we deal with each athlete in the appropriate manner,” says
             coach Allen. I asked Allen if he felt the use of mandatory drug testing would be effective
             in preventing athletes from using the drugs. He responded that if the testing procedures
             were sophisticated enough to make it difficult to alter results, the program could be very
             effective. Coach Allen noted that performance enhancing drugs have been abused by
             athletes for years. He recalled a moment from a clinic he had hosted where a former
             Olympian Jay Sylvester was asked if he had ever used steroids. Sylvester said, “I don’t
             know anyone that didn’t.” It was clear through my interview with Coach Allen, that the
             use of these drugs is so rampant, that it extends to the Community College athletes.
             The problems these drugs present to athletes are deeper than simply...