Supplying child athletes with drugs to help them quickly gain or lose weight or encouraging them to take such medications soon will be outlawed in Illinois under a bill signed Friday by Gov. Jim Edgar.
The new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, makes giving such a drug to any athlete under age 18 a misdemeanor. But repeat offenses will be felonies punishable by 1 to 3 years in prison.
The bill was prompted by last fall’s scandal involving a 10-year-old south suburban boy who took the prescription drug Lasix to lose 12 pounds so he could stay on a football team with kids his age. The drug is a diuretic commonly prescribed for people with congestive heart failure.
The athletic director of the private Palos Stars football team, Louis Trench, said he knew some children took the drug and helped them obtain it if they couldn’t get it on their own. Trench has not been charged with any crime.
The legislation is “a step in the right direction,” said Dr. Anthony C. Delach, who sparked the furor almost a year ago, after a routine exam revealed that the boy had been eating only carrots and lettuce for a week.
Also Friday, Edgar signed a bill that lets local school boards decide whether to observe Casimir Pulaski Day as a state school holiday or commemorate the Polish war hero through in-class activities.
Another bill signed by Edgar lets the Chicago Board of Education set additional criteria in the selection of school principals, ending a power struggle between the board and advocates of local school councils.
Also Friday, Edgar signed bills:
– Strengthening the powers of Comptroller Loleta Didrickson’s office to scrutinize operations of struggling cemeteries and to investigate suspected fraud.
– Creating the felony offense of aggravated intimidation, which can include anything a gang member does to promote gang activity.
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– Prohibiting drunken drivers from receiving court supervision more than once.
– Requiring the attorney general to notify legislative leaders before agreeing to settle lawsuits against the state costing $10 million or more.