The Cerritos College Athletic Center has no requirements among drug testing athletics. Everything is done with the relationships between the coaches and their team.

“It’s really expensive for the school to afford drug testing,” Athletic Director Dan Clauss said.

Mandatory drug testing is not being required, but it’s up to the coaches to decide whether or not they want to drug test their athletes.

“We do not have a mandatory drug test. We can take them to the health center,” Clauss said.

Coaches have the last word, deciding whether or not they should drug test their students. If a student doesn’t pass the drug test, personal talk will be suggested

“It all depends on the coach ,” Clauss said.

“I personally haven’t been drug tested, but only if the coach feels suspicious,” Zhavon Resendez, sophomore wrester said. “At the beginning of the semester, coach has his rules that are required to be (kept).”

Coaches know their players well enough to realize if a lecture is needed.

“We work very closely with our health center and Nancy Montgomery and her team,” Dean of Athletics Daniel Smith said. “Every coach has his own rules. Some coaches don’t believe it’s a big deal, others believe it’s a big deal to drug test and give health and nutrition lectures.

“I know because for seven years I was in charge of the athletic drug testing program at the University of Illinois and we paid $15 to $100 per test. Testing athletics can become a pricey budget.

“We have coaches that have Nancy (Montgomery) coming in constantly to give lectures,” Smith said. “Trusting Montgomery and her team has helped in a variety of ways. Not only do they concentrate on drug issues, but also nutrition, and it also being an important part of being an athlete.”

“Every sport is allowed to get a free drug test, and a free STD test,” Jaime Leija, sophomore tight end football player said .

Leija has been playing for two years and “only once” was there a random drug test schedule. “It’s all done confidentally with our students,” Smith said.