The irresponsible actions of a few have given the rest of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football a “black eye,” according to Saint Mary’s Huskies head coach Steve Sumarah.
Sumarah reacted yesterday to the news the University of Waterloo has suspended its football program for one year after unprecedented testing of the entire team revealed nine potential anti-doping violations. Testing was prompted after Waterloo receiver Nathan Zettler was arrested for possession and trafficking of anabolic steroids.
Sumarah said steroids aren’t a problem in CIS football, noting Saint Mary’s hasn’t had a steroid-related suspension in his 11 full years at the school.
“It’s unfortunate a couple of guys have given us a black eye,” Sumarah said.
Sumarah estimates the CIS has randomly tested about 20 of his players over the past five years with all results coming back negative. He said he expects the CIS to increase its random testing, particularly in the off-season.
“I’m not sure it’s ever (fully) effective until you test everybody,” he said. “But you’re talking about huge amounts of money and those things are probably not going to happen.”
