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CSU fight leads to drug probe of Rams football players
Updated: 04/29/2012 11:35:57 AM MDT
By Mike Brohard
FORT COLLINS — An April 6 fight involving Colorado State University football players Mike Orakpo, Colton Paulhus and Nordly Capi was bad enough for the school's and program's public image. When information concerning the possible use of anabolic steroids and marijuana surfaced in the police report released Thursday, it became a much more serious issue for the athletic department.
"It's concerning because we take great pride in not having that involved in our program, and we have what we think is a very strict and stringent drug-testing program," said Gary Ozzello, CSU's senior associate athletic director in charge of external affairs.
Included in the 90-page police report was a description of foil packages marked as anabolic steroids that were found in Paulhus' residence, along with hypodermic needles labeled with a prescription made out to Paulhus. Paulhus, who told police he had a prescription to take the steroids to treat low testosterone levels, could not produce the prescription but did admit to police the content of what they found.
In Orakpo's room, police found nine unmarked vials (eight in a refrigerator) as well as syringes, three of which were used. They were sent to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for testing, according to the report. When interviewed along with attorney Erik Fischer by the police, Orakpo was asked if those vials could present a problem for him. Fischer interjected and said they could but disagreed with their being collected as evidence.
Anabolic steroids are considered a Schedule 3 drug in the state of Colorado, and the possession of them is a Class 4 felony, with a first offense punishable by two to six years in prison and fines of $2,000 to $500,000. Linda Jensen, the public-information officer for the 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office, said she could not comment on whether additional charges would be added to the disorderly conduct misdemeanors the players have been charged with.
Marijuana paraphernalia was found at both sites, and marijuana was found where Paulhus lives, but neither could be tied directly to any of the players, as they all have roommates, the report said. A kit purporting to hide results of marijuana drug testing was found at the residence of Orakpo and Capi.
Ozzello called the findings "disappointing" and said the school knew nothing of it until the police report was released. He said department officials did not know whether the case could spread.
"I don't know about programwide, but we're always concerned whether it's one case or 100 cases — you're concerned for the welfare of the student-athlete," he said. "That's the biggest concern, and we want to be sure we're educating them as well as evaluating them."
Ozzello said all athletes at the school are subjected to random drug testing. The tests are conducted every two weeks, with participants chosen at random based on certain factors. If an athlete has tested positive before, he or she would be subject to additional tests. These are run in addition to NCAA testing. The school's program also includes education and counseling.
A second positive test results in the loss of participation for an athlete (which varies by sport), and a third positive test results in permanent dismissal.
All three players remain on indefinite suspension by coach Jim McElwain, an action he said was the stiffest he could invoke a day after the fight. The report lists three other players who were present — Aaron Davis, Nu'uvali Fa'apito and Alex Tucci — but none of them was charged.
Mike Hooker, CSU's executive director of public affairs and communication, said the university started its own investigation when it first became aware of the fight and continues to investigate but cannot talk about it for privacy reasons. He said the university plans to move quickly and that, depending on the findings, expulsion of the involved students is possible.
"That's certainly among the options," he said. "It all comes down to whether the student- conduct code has been violated."
Read more: CSU fight leads to drug probe of Rams football players - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20505875/csu-fight-leads-drug-probe-football-players#ixzz1tSeJ0dqj
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse
Updated: 04/29/2012 11:35:57 AM MDT
By Mike Brohard
FORT COLLINS — An April 6 fight involving Colorado State University football players Mike Orakpo, Colton Paulhus and Nordly Capi was bad enough for the school's and program's public image. When information concerning the possible use of anabolic steroids and marijuana surfaced in the police report released Thursday, it became a much more serious issue for the athletic department.
"It's concerning because we take great pride in not having that involved in our program, and we have what we think is a very strict and stringent drug-testing program," said Gary Ozzello, CSU's senior associate athletic director in charge of external affairs.
Included in the 90-page police report was a description of foil packages marked as anabolic steroids that were found in Paulhus' residence, along with hypodermic needles labeled with a prescription made out to Paulhus. Paulhus, who told police he had a prescription to take the steroids to treat low testosterone levels, could not produce the prescription but did admit to police the content of what they found.
In Orakpo's room, police found nine unmarked vials (eight in a refrigerator) as well as syringes, three of which were used. They were sent to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for testing, according to the report. When interviewed along with attorney Erik Fischer by the police, Orakpo was asked if those vials could present a problem for him. Fischer interjected and said they could but disagreed with their being collected as evidence.
Anabolic steroids are considered a Schedule 3 drug in the state of Colorado, and the possession of them is a Class 4 felony, with a first offense punishable by two to six years in prison and fines of $2,000 to $500,000. Linda Jensen, the public-information officer for the 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office, said she could not comment on whether additional charges would be added to the disorderly conduct misdemeanors the players have been charged with.
Marijuana paraphernalia was found at both sites, and marijuana was found where Paulhus lives, but neither could be tied directly to any of the players, as they all have roommates, the report said. A kit purporting to hide results of marijuana drug testing was found at the residence of Orakpo and Capi.
Ozzello called the findings "disappointing" and said the school knew nothing of it until the police report was released. He said department officials did not know whether the case could spread.
"I don't know about programwide, but we're always concerned whether it's one case or 100 cases — you're concerned for the welfare of the student-athlete," he said. "That's the biggest concern, and we want to be sure we're educating them as well as evaluating them."
Ozzello said all athletes at the school are subjected to random drug testing. The tests are conducted every two weeks, with participants chosen at random based on certain factors. If an athlete has tested positive before, he or she would be subject to additional tests. These are run in addition to NCAA testing. The school's program also includes education and counseling.
A second positive test results in the loss of participation for an athlete (which varies by sport), and a third positive test results in permanent dismissal.
All three players remain on indefinite suspension by coach Jim McElwain, an action he said was the stiffest he could invoke a day after the fight. The report lists three other players who were present — Aaron Davis, Nu'uvali Fa'apito and Alex Tucci — but none of them was charged.
Mike Hooker, CSU's executive director of public affairs and communication, said the university started its own investigation when it first became aware of the fight and continues to investigate but cannot talk about it for privacy reasons. He said the university plans to move quickly and that, depending on the findings, expulsion of the involved students is possible.
"That's certainly among the options," he said. "It all comes down to whether the student- conduct code has been violated."
Read more: CSU fight leads to drug probe of Rams football players - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20505875/csu-fight-leads-drug-probe-football-players#ixzz1tSeJ0dqj
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse
