CIF ADOPTS NEW DRUG PROGRAM COACHES WILL HAVE TO LEARN DANGERS OF STEROIDS, OTHER SUBSTANCES.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

California has become the first state in the nation Friday to implement a mandatory program designed to educate high school coaches about the dangers of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.

With use by student-athletes estimated between 10-20 percent, the California Interscholastic Federation voted unanimously to require coaches to complete a course aimed at creating better understanding and community awareness about an often taboo subject.

``By doing this now, by getting the word out and identifying this as a serious problem, I think you'll see a tremendous improvement over the next five years,'' said Dick Dornan, the athletic director at Crespi High in Encino. ``It's time for us to make a statement that we care about our kids and their well-being.''

The program will begin in the fall, but coaches have until 2008 to become certified. Coaches, many of whom have been reluctant to discuss the subject with their athletes, will be responsible for the $100 cost of the classes. Schools will circulate literature publicizing the consequences of steroid use. The CIF will monitor their compliance.

The CIF meeting in Irvine also announced the establishment of three State Championship Bowl games beginning in 2006. The two-year pilot program calls for three championship games involving the top Div. I, Div. II and Div. III teams from Southern and Northern California.

The initiative passed despite the rejection of the Southern Section in a vote April 29. However, it had support from the City, San Diego, Sac-Joaquin, San Francisco, Oakland, Central Coast and Central sections, which generated the necessary votes for approval.

``It's difficult because 14 games is a pretty long season as it is, so to add a 15th makes it an extremely long season,'' said Kevin Rooney, the football coach and athletic director at Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks. ``On the flip side, this is pretty neat for the kids. We just have to see it put in place and see how it all works out. It'll definitely be interesting.''

But the most riveting moment of the four-hour meeting was a speech by the father of Efrain Marrero, a 19-year old football player from Vacaville who shot and killed himself last September shortly after informing his parents he had been using steroids.

Three weeks after stopping steroids cold turkey, Marrero committed suicide. His parents hope his death stands as a reminder to parents, coaches and athletes about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.

Had the new policy been in place, Marrero's parents are confident they would have been better equipped to deal with their son's steroid use.

``At that time, we didn't even speak about steroids, it wasn't even in our vocabulary,'' said Efrain's father, Frank. ``When he first talked to us we were surprised, it was like, 'Steroids, what's that?' At that time I had no idea, I didn't have the information or the education.''

The new policy does not include any drug testing, but officials believe that by raising awareness, especially on the part of parents and coaches, more young athletes will turn away from steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.

The new policy also requires all member schools to adopt written policies against the use of steroids that must be signed by students and parents.

Schools must prohibit coaches and other personnel from selling, promoting and distributing any muscle-building, performance-enhancing supplements. It also prohibits schools and districts from accepting any sponsorships from companies that produce muscle-building, performance-enhancing substances.

``Hopefully we get (steroids) out of the locker rooms and out of the weight rooms,'' said CIF Assistant Executive Director Roger Blake.

Florida and Texas, which along with California are the top states for prep football, have discussed steroid education at the high school level. But only California has voted to make it a reality.

``It's a tough subject, obviously, but the timing is right,'' said Barbara Feige, director of the Los Angeles City Section. To me it's a no brainer. We've got to get into it, and we've got to get into it now.''

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com