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Toxicology exam on UF freshman shows no evidence of "therapeutic or illicit drugs.'' It does not include steroids test.
By ANTONYA ENGLISH
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 24, 2001
Eraste Autin, the Florida freshman who died in July, six days after collapsing following a voluntary football workout, did not have illegal drugs in his system at the time, according to a toxicology report.
"No therapeutic or illicit drugs were found in his body fluids," said Dr. Bruce A. Goldberger, director of toxicology and clinical associate professor at the University of Florida Diagnostic Referral Laboratories. "Every case that we test is basically treated and handled the same way. We screen for volatiles, substances like alcohol. We also test for therapeutic and illicit drugs -- this includes drugs like antiseizure medications, antidepressants, narcotics and many, many other drugs. We also include tests for cocaine, amphetamines, heroin and other drugs of that nature. In this case, all the results were negative."
At the request of Autin's father, Dr. David Autin, an autopsy was not performed, but a toxicology report was requested by the medical examiner's office.
Autin, 18, died July 25 of heatstroke, according to a report by Alachua County medical examiner Dr. William F. Hamilton.
Goldberger said Autin, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound fullback, was tested for numerous substances, but a check for anabolic steroids was not among the tests requested by the medical examiner's office.
"We tested for some performance-enhancing drugs which would have shown if they were stimulants, but steroids we did not test for because they weren't indicated," Goldberger said.
A toxicology report on FSU freshman linebacker Devaughn Darling included testing for steroids, but a local medical examiner said it wasn't significant in Autin's case. Darling collapsed and died after a offseason workout Feb. 26.
"It (steroid testing) is not that pertinent in the determination of sudden death," Hillsborough County medical examiner Vernard Adams said. "You need an autopsy to look for congenital heart disease, you need a thermometer reading for the hypothermia and you need a toxicologoy panel to test for drugs of abuse. Those are the most likely scenarios in a student-athlete."
Autin received a physical exam on July 2, which did not indicate health problems.
The only drug found in Autin's system was laudanosine, which Goldberger said is a drug used when patients are on a respirator. Autin was placed on a respirator after he suffered a heart attack, following the collapse.
Toxicology tests were conducted on Autin's blood (postmortem), and blood, serum and urine while at the hospital. All results were negative, except laudanosine.
According to the medical examiner's report, Autin collapsed outside Ben Hill Griffin stadium. His temperature upon arrival at the emergency room of Shands at the University of Florida, Gainesville, was 108 degrees and he suffered multisystem organ failure, the report said.
Hamilton could not be reached for comment Thursday.
-- Staff writer Brian Landman contributed to this report.