LANSING – A steroid-fueled showdown between a senator and a high school sports organization is hitting the Capitol.

Sen. Michael Switalski, D-Roseville, has re-introduced a bill to require random testing for steroids.

His first proposal died last year because of heavy opposition from the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA)

Switalski said he wants the requirement because the use of steroids to enhance athletic performance is cheating and should not be tolerated.

“It is unhealthy and destroys the fairness of athletic competition,” he said.

But Jack Roberts of MHSAA said his organization didn’t support it in the past and won’t support it this time around.

“The tests that are affordable are ineffective and the ones that are effective cost far beyond what our budget could bear,” he said.

Switalski said the MHSAA won’t support the bill because the organization is afraid of the reaction of parents whose children would be tested.

“The MHSAA should be making sure the athletes aren’t cheating. They need to have courage and fulfill their responsibilities,” he said.

If the proposal passes, it will make the MHSAA’s responsible to put together protocols, train employees to test athletes and set up contracts with testing labs and schools.

“It is very burdensome for very little gain,” Roberts said.

Roberts said he’s heard that a few schools test student athletes for drugs, but those tests are for street drugs such as marijuana, not steroids.

School districts that currently test for drugs are New Boston, Grand Blanc, Clio and Fenton according to Switalski’s office.

Roberts said, “Steroids are not in the top 10 for drugs used by teenagers. It is ranked 13th.” Tobacco and alcohol are ranked 1 and 2.

“What we want is education on performance-enhancing drugs to keep kids from using them. Testing kids for steroids won’t keep them from using,” Roberts added.

Greg Roberts, the athletic director for Clare Public Schools said, “Looking at our athletes, I would say that steroids are not a problem.” Greg Roberts is not related to Jack Roberts.

“I understand that the nation has jumped at the ‘steroid outbreak’ in America, but I don’t know if this should be our response,” he added.

Greg Roberts said mandatory testing isn’t the answer. Parents must be more active in determining whether their child needs to be tested, he said.

If it passes, he added, “it’s just another choice for our student-athletes to make and another financial strain on the school districts of Michigan.”

Switalski said the cost of testing could be covered by a $1 surcharge on tickets for state tournaments.

“Sometimes it takes a tragedy to make people wake up. Most are not ready to accept it yet, but as they learn more about the steroid problem I hope they will see the wisdom in the legislation,” Switalski said.

“These are young impressionable kids who may not be making the best decisions.”

According to studies by the University of Michigan, 5 percent of high school athletes in Michigan have admitted to using steroids.