SB FILE / 2006 Former Hawaii receiver Ian Sample got the attention of the program with his new book.

Jones: Sample wrong

The NCAA decides which athletes are chosen for drug testing, not anyone affiliated with the school, a University of Hawaii athletic department official and head football coach June Jones said yesterday.

Former UH receiver Ian Sample claimed that "higher-ups" choose who's tested, based on the players' value to the team.

"Absolutely a lie," Jones said, in making his first extensive public comments on Sample's book, "Once A Warrior" and unpublished excerpts on the Internet. "It's a farce to assume we hand pick them."

The school's NCAA compliance officer, Bill Bryant, said the NCAA administers tests "at least once a year." He said 16 football players are chosen a year, and eight other athletes.

"It's done on campus, and they send in their own team," Bryant said.

UH itself tests all athletes once, when they enter school, he said.

Other chapters online are about sex, drinking and academic dishonesty. Coaches were aware of cheating, but did nothing, according to Sample.

Jones called Sample's accusations "dishonorable."

"It's unfortunate," Jones said. "These are the greatest kids in the world. It's a shame someone would throw them under the bus. In this day, with the Internet, anyone can say what they want.

"Some of those things do happen, but to suggest it's condoned. ..."

UH associate athletic director John McNamara said department officials will meet on the matter.

"We will administratively evaluate and review it to see if any steps need to be taken," McNamara said. "We'll be working in conjunction with June."

Sample completed a book-signing tour in Hawaii on Sunday, and leaves today for Japan where he is playing football and working.

"He's entitled to his opinion," Sample said of Jones' comments. "But when he talks about throwing people under the bus, if he gets really bored one day and goes to the public library and reads the book, he might have some different thoughts."

Sample distributed copies of the book -- composed of much less controversial material -- to teammates Saturday. Heisman Trophy candidate Colt Brennan said he hadn't read the book or the online material.

"The main thing I hope is that it doesn't have a negative effect on what we're trying to accomplish," said Brennan, quarterback of the No. 23-ranked Warriors.