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[Definitie:] "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance."
(Wilmore and Costill) 
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2 2 - 0 4 - 2 0 0 5 Mother of former player sues football coach, attorney says
By Leila Fadel
COLLEYVILLE - The mother of a former Colleyville Heritage High School football player is asking for $1.5 million in damages from the head football coach, her attorney, Dan Boyd, said.
Lori Lewis filed a slander lawsuit Wednesday afternoon in Tarrant County that accused Chris Cunningham of tarnishing her reputation in an interview with The Dallas Morning News, Boyd said. "He said she was a liar and she was crazy and she was trying to cover up her own problem," Boyd said. "It was very hurtful and humiliating." Lewis sparked an investigation at Colleyville Heritage High School after she found a vial of steroids in her son's room and notified the school. Nine students eventually admitted using steroids last year. The University Interscholastic League considered but decided against mandatory steroid testing, but called for a survey of Texas high schools to determine whether it is a widespread problem among athletes. A state lawmaker, however, has called for random steroid tests for Texas public high school athletes during the playoffs. Lewis' son's transfer to Nolan Catholic High School earlier this year was also mentioned in the suit, Boyd said. School documents show that the boy was threatened by other students after speaking to authorities about football players' steroid use. Grapevine-Colleyville officials would not comment Wednesday on the lawsuit because they had not seen a copy. Cunningham also had not seen a copy, he said. He is expected to be served with the lawsuit today, Boyd said. 1 5 - 1 0 - 2 0 0 5 Judge rules woman can sue coach for slander
Colleyville: No shield for comments about accuser in steroid case
Dallas Morning News FORT WORTH – The mother of a former Colleyville Heritage High School athlete can sue the head football coach for slander despite a state law that usually shields educators from litigation. State District Judge Jeff Walker ruled Friday that the usual immunity didn't apply to coach Chris Cunningham's statements. The coach called Lori Lewis a "liar" and "crazy mom" when contacted by The Dallas Morning News last fall about her accusations of steroid use on his team. Mr. Cunningham did not know Ms. Lewis' identity at the time. Dan Boyd, Ms. Lewis' attorney, said that school employees have immunity when doing their jobs, but he said that slandering his client didn't fall into that category. "That protection is there to protect legitimate actions of teachers," not personal attacks, Mr. Boyd said. Tom Myers, the attorney representing Mr. Cunningham, said he's not surprised by Judge Walker's ruling. "We understood that it was a difficult motion," he said. "It would be somewhat unusual for a case to be dismissed this early." However, Mr. Myers said that once more facts are introduced into court, he will again argue that his client's comments to the media were part of his "discretionary duty" that's protected by state law. The dispute started after Ms. Lewis found a vial containing a steroid in her son's bedroom. He told her that he had bought the drug from a teammate and that least a dozen Heritage athletes had used steroids. Mr. Cunningham's comments and the denial of a team steroid problem were made in reaction to Ms. Lewis' statements to the press. The News reported in February that nine Heritage athletes, seven of them football players, admitted they used steroids during the previous school year. Ms. Lewis said her son transferred to another school because of threats and intimidation from other Heritage football players. Before the slander case can continue, Ms. Lewis must complete the grievance process within the school district. Mr. Boyd called that requirement "perverse" but said it's necessary to prevent a future appeal on the ground that due process wasn't followed. Ms. Lewis has asked for $1.5 million in damages and promised to donate some of the money to the Taylor Hooton Foundation, named after a Plano student who committed suicide after using steroids. Mr. Myers said that even if Ms. Lewis wins, the damages would be capped at $100,000. Mr. Boyd said he would have to look more closely at that issue. |
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