Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 20, 1994 TAG: 9411220040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Frank Beamer, the Hokies' coach, announced last week the pair of reserves had been suspended indefinitely for a violation of athletic policy and would not elaborate. It could not be learned what substance showed up in the tests administered by the athletic department, although one source said it was not steroids.
Williams, a junior from Springfield, could not be reached for comment. Dozier, a sophomore from Virginia Beach, would not comment except to say, ``There is an appeal.'' Tech's athletic department drug-testing policy allows an appeal of ``the imposition of sanctions to the Drug Program Committee.'' The committee can investigate the case, order that a new test be given and/or reduce the penalties.
Williams, a reserve tight end, rarely played. Dozier, a linebacker, replaced injured Ken Brown against Rutgers and would have backed up Brown's replacement in the starting lineup, Brandon Semones, in Saturday's game against Virginia. Dozier has 18 tackles this year.
Dave Braine, Tech's athletic director, said that in addition to annual drug tests by the NCAA, the school randomly tests 20 athletes each week during the school year. Hokies athletes in all sports are subject to testing.
The penalty for an athlete's first offense under Tech's drug-testing policy is mandatory counseling, and failure to do so is regarded as a second positive test. Penalties for a second offense include mandatory counseling, the possibility of more frequent testing and suspension from competition for the remainder of the season after an in-season positive test.
Dozier and Williams are believed to be the second and third football players to have failed drug tests at Tech. The other, linebacker Mark Scott, was booted in September of 1991 for using an NCAA-banned substance he later described as a ``muscle-healer.''
by CNB