WATERVLIET, Mich. (AP) — Athletes at a high school in southwestern Michigan must agree to random drug tests to play sports.

The school board in Watervliet approved the policy this week. Superintendent Kevin Schooley says playing sports is a privilege.

The Herald-Palladium newspaper quotes school board member Bill Spaulding as saying the drug-testing policy is a “valuable deterrent.” Besides random tests, athletes can be tested if there’s “reasonable suspicion” of drug or alcohol use.

John Johnson of the Michigan High School Athletic Association says drug testing is strictly a local issue for schools. There is no statewide rule.