Taylor Hooton Foundation > Press Releases > THE TAYLOR HOOTON FOUNDATION WILL ASSIST WATERLOO UNIVERSITY WITH COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUG EDCUATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES AND STAFF
August 19, 2010
THE TAYLOR HOOTON FOUNDATION WILL ASSIST WATERLOO UNIVERSITY WITH COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUG EDCUATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES AND STAFF

Groundbreaking program unmatched by any other U.S. or Canadian University

(Dallas, TX)-Aug. 19, 2010- Today, Taylor Hooton Foundation (THF), the leading organization dedicated to combating steroid abuse, announced that it would assist University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, in conducting anti-performance enhancing drug educational programs for the University’s athletic staff and student-athletes.
Under this agreement, the Foundation will provide comprehensive anti-performance enhancing drug educational programs for all of Waterloo’s student-athletes, coaches, training staff, and strength and conditioning staff.  Foundation-led educational seminars will be mandatory for all of the University’s interuniversity athletes, which total roughly 560 student-athletes.  In addition, all of the University’s coaches, full-time training staff, and strength and conditioning staff, totaling approximately 100-plus individuals, will be required to complete the Foundation’s online training program.  These programs will begin this Fall (2010).
Don Hooton, President of the Taylor Hooton Foundation said, “We are extremely excited to be working with University of Waterloo.  Waterloo’s efforts to educate its student-athletes and athletic staff are unparalleled.  No other university in the United States or Canada has made as strong a commitment to combating this problem.”
“It became clear to us that we must enhance educational efforts on our campus to combat this issue. We are very encouraged by the pioneering work being done by the Taylor Hooton Foundation to educate athletes, athletic staff and others about the risks associated with the use of banned substances,” said Bob Copeland, the Director, of Athletics & Recreational Services for the University.  “We look forward to continuing to work with the Hooton Foundation to ensure that the University of Waterloo’s athletic programs effectively address the problem of performance enhancing drug use,” he added.
Last season, a significant number of the University’s football players were found to be using banned substance. The University suspended the program from competing for a period of one year and placed the head coach on leave, pending the results of a report.
The report, which was released this week, revealed that players felt the need to take banned substances in order to compete at the college level. The report also found that the previous educational efforts for student-athletes were “ineffective.” The report determined that “there is a need for more effective education of players, particularly on the adverse health affects.” The report also called for more education and training of coaches, trainers, and health care professionals.
The Taylor Hooton Foundation was recently certified by the Texas Education Agency as an approved provider of continuing education programs.  The Foundation’s comprehensive, research-based online anti-performance enhancing drug training program for coaches and other athletic staff are the first such programs available.  “We created our online program to ensure that coaches, trainers, and other athletic staff who work with our children have the facts and can guide young people to make good, healthy and ethical choices-whether they are in Canada or Florida,” said Hooton.
For information about the Foundation’s educational programs contact the Foundation at: 972-403-7300.