Starting as early as 2012 the ASP will begin implementing drug test to all pro surfers and contest officials in all WT events and some Prime events.  The news is still just breaking but so far the puplic reaction hasn't been too favorable.  Some say that this will strip away any individualism towards the sport and that the competitors will start to blend in with other professional athletes, merely fitting into just a "cookie cutter" mold.

Vans Triple Crown director, Randy Rarick, views things differently.  "Drug testing been discussed for over 30 years," states Rarick.  "Fred Hemmings wanted to do in in the '70s when he ran the IPS.  I think it's been a long time coming.  What I like about it is that is shows the maturity of our sport.  Not to take anything away from surfing as a lifestyle, but if you're a professional athlete, you should act like one."

In favor of it or not, it looks like this will have to become something that pro surfers will have to get used to.  What happens if some of our favorite pro surfers test positive to steriods?  Will surfing now face the same scrutiny as baseball, football, etc.?  Time will tell.

One thing is for sure, the word is out now so those who are subject to the testing have 3 months to change and prepare their lifestyles for the new rules of competition. 

- Dan Chandler