Schools in a Birmingham, Alabama, suburb have begun testing student athletes for tobacco as well as alcohol and drugs. I just don't think athletes need to smoke. Lance Rhodes admits some of his teammates smoke.
Students get three chances before punishment is imposed.
When an athlete's urine sample tests positive for tobacco, officials will first notify the parents and tell the student to quit. A second positive test will land the student athlete in a tobacco education course, which will be followed by further testing. The third offense will get athletes suspended from one-quarter of their upcoming athletic contests. Hoover's policy stops short of a total ban on student smoking, but it's an incentive for athletes not to smoke. Middle school athletes will also be tested, and school district officials say neither parents nor students have objected.