Excerpts from the investigative panel's report

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"Eight of 18 current and former softball players interviewed by the panel stated that Dr. (William) Scheyer gave them some combination of narcotic pain medication, dose packs (of a corticosteroid), antibiotics, birth control pills, cortisone shots, muscle relaxants and other prescription medication."

"One player explained that, from 2000 to 2002, she received from Dr. Scheyer 100 to 180 narcotic pills, which he dispensed to her in either bottles or packets. ... This player recalls that, in three separate games, she took medication that a trainer gave to her, and she played 'high.' She was 'giggly, loopy and was laughing on the dugout floor.' "

"Although no players admitted to the panel that they had been addicted to medication, one player described that she developed a tolerance for her medication. This player explained that, in her freshman year, she took Vicodin and muscle relaxants two to three times almost every day. She stated that she could not have played, practiced or slept without the medication. This player explained that, at first, she only needed one-half of a Vicodin tablet, but, by the end of the year, she required two Vicodin tablets to achieve the same level of pain relief."

"Sixteen of the softball players and most of the trainers and doctors interviewed stated that they heard comments referring to Dr. Scheyer as 'Dr. Feel Good' or 'the Candy Man.' "

"Three players told the panel that, after receiving pills from (assistant athletic trainer Craig) Moriwaki, they played impaired and/or under the influence of medication. One player stated that Moriwaki gave her pills before a game. She told Moriwaki that she could not focus because he gave her too many pills and she was worried that she would get hit in the face with the ball. Moriwaki responded to this player's concern by telling her to take a 'focus pill.' "

"In several instances, players stated that they were too hurt to play, but (coach Teresa) Wilson inserted them in the lineup anyway, sometimes after being told to see the trainer, where they received narcotic pain medications."

"When Moriwaki tried to pressure players into taking narcotic pain relievers, despite their objections and refusal to take the pills unless he told them what they were, the players were afraid to tell the coach (Wilson). Instead, they either flushed the pills down the toilet, or brought the pills home, where their parents flushed the pills down the toilet."

Football players also got pills from Scheyer: "One doctor recalled that, in 1996, he first saw Dr. Scheyer give handfuls of pills to football players before games....

"A ... trainer told the panel that, on two separate occasions, football players reported to him during games that they were sick from the medication that Dr. Scheyer gave to them."

 
On former head softball coach Teresa Wilson:

"First, in written notes to Hedges, Wilson stated that she saw Dr. Scheyer give anti-inflammatory medication to a player. ... However, in her interviews with this panel, Wilson denied that she ever saw Dr. Scheyer give medication to a player. Second, in Wilson's notes to Hedges, she wrote 'every trainer I have worked with during my 10 years here' has treated players on the airplane. However, in her interviews with this panel, Wilson stated that she never saw Moriwaki treat players or give medication to players on the airplane... ."

On former athletic director Barbara Hedges:

"Hedges told the panel that she never heard any concerns expressed about Dr. Scheyer and Moriwaki providing medications to athletes. However, witnesses told the panel that they explicitly expressed such concerns to Hedges.

"... One doctor reported to the panel that he and a second physician told Hedges that Dr. Scheyer and Moriwaki overused Medrol Dosepaks (a corticosteroid) in treating UW athletes and that this practice was dangerous to athletes. ... They also showed her an X-ray of aseptic necrosis (poor blood supply leading to bone death) of the hip to demonstrate one of the adverse reactions associated with corticosteroids. One doctor stated that, in that meeting, Hedges took the position that she was not a doctor and that she saw no reason to question Dr. Scheyer."

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company