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By Marcia C. Smith
December 12th, 2007
America's kids have known what's going on. They have spent much of 2007 watching the sports world's doping dragnet catch cheaters, big and small.
Lynne Sladky / AP file 
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida high school athletes participating in football, baseball and weightlifting will be subject to random steroid testing under a one-year pilot program Gov. Charlie Crist signed Tuesday.
The Florida High School Athletics Association will supervise the testing. Its membership includes 426 public schools and 224 private schools -- all subject to the law that takes effect July 1.
"I am hopeful that through this legislation we will limit the number of high school students struggling with steroid use," Crist said. "It's our responsibility to teach our children the serious health risks that may be involved. We can help prevent serious health problems and drug abuse later on."
The justices rule unanimously that coaches' recruitment efforts aren't protected as free speech.
By David G. Savage and Eric Sondheimer
Times Staff Writers
WASHINGTON - High schools with big-time sports ambitions were dealt a setback Thursday when the Supreme Court upheld a rule that forbids coaches from recruiting young athletes.
In a 9-0 decision, the justices said the 1st Amendment's guarantee of free speech does not shield coaches who ignore the rules of fair competition by contacting students and encouraging them to enroll in their school.
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