Marian U looks to drug test athletes

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Marian University's Athletic Director, Steve Downing, told 24-Hour News 8 he is putting together plans to drug test all of the university's athletes.

The news comes on the heels of a new report about cyclist Lance Armstrong. A 200 page report and 11 of Armstrong's team mates have laid out details of the cycler's blood doping activities over a period of years.

The head coach of Marian's nationally ranked cycling program reveres Armstrong, but is saddened by the news. Dean Peterson's 45 member team has accrued 19 USA Cycling National Championships and 15 collegiate championships. He says Armstrong's legacy is tarnished, despite denials, and has sparked new conversation at Marian which is resulting in changes to drug testing.

Downing, Marian's Athletic Director, says plans will soon be in place to drug test not only the cycling team, but all athletes at Marian University.

"We've never done that at Marian before," said Steve Downing. "So we're in the process right as we speak drawing up the policy, where they have to sign, because we have to have their consent."

Coach Peterson is 100 percent behind the idea.

"I think that it's not that we don't trust the athletes," said Peterson. "It's just to help make sure that everyone knows that we run a clean program."

Armstrong's seven Tour de France wins propelled him into the stratosphere of sports. But those titles could very well be stripped from him.

Director Downing, a former IU and Celtic basketball player, says doping happens in a lot of sports, but Armstrong needs to come clean.

"I just think it's disappointing because of all the fans he had and what he's meant to cycling as a whole,” Downing said. “But it does cast a light on programs like Marian rightly or wrongly. I think he's done a big disservice to cycling."