The University of Tennessee is keeping a close eye on Matt McGlothlin, as they will any athlete who returns from a suspension involving performance-enhancing drugs.

McGlothlin sat out the 2004 season for testing positive for a testosterone-related supplement banned by the NCAA. He said the over-the-counter substance for which he tested positive was purchased at a GNC store.

The senior defensive tackle returned last season and played in 10 games as a walk-on. UT coach Phillip Fulmer returned McGlothlin to scholarship status last week.

"I'm grateful completely," McGlothlin said of UT's coaches who allowed him to return. "I love them all to death. I know a lot of people wanted me gone.

"A lot of people with the university said I was a real big liability to them. I'm grateful that they allowed me to come back and still believe in me."

UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said there's always a concern whenever a player with such a history is allowed to return.

"You have to monitor their health," Hamilton said. "You can bring them back only in circumstances where the expectations have been clearly delineated and set forth.

"Then you go from there."

Schools handle punishment for steroids differently than recreational drugs. Players have to test positive at least two times for recreational drugs before they are dismissed.

A positive test for steroids results in at least an immediate one-year suspension.

"It's unacceptable," Hamilton said. "It's something that the NCAA says is not legal. The institution says it's not legal. It should suffer a very harsh penalty."

A positive steroids test must make a school uncomfortable, given the contagious nature that performance-enhancing drugs can have in a weight room.

"You could take that stance," Hamilton said. "What we try to do is be very aggressive and proactive and prevent that from happening through education and testing."

Fulmer said his program keeps a close eye on the effects the drugs can have, such as weight gain and personality changes.

"You always monitor that," he said. "That's something we'll pick up really fast."

Whether it's Floyd Landis in cycling or Justin Gatlin in track, performance-enhancing drugs are often in the news. Fulmer said he's seen a filter-down effect.

"It's out there and it's sad," Fulmer said. "You hear about high school players dying. If people really wanted it stopped, they could stop it.

"They are serious about it now. Ten years ago, they knew about as much about it then (as they do now)."

Hamilton agrees. He said governing bodies are more aggressive than they've ever been. He said the NCAA even held random steroid tests this year.

"There has been great progress made," he said. "Obviously, there is still work to go. But if you look back 10 years ago, 15 years ago, athletics is making great progress with that problem."

Designer drugs, masking agents and cycling off of enhancers during testing periods are some of the ways users can avoid detection. The steroid game has never been more complicated.

"The testing mechanisms are more intricate now, too," Hamilton said. "The people who want to cheat, there will always be the guys out there to invent the next thing to allow them do that.

"What you hope you have is people who aren't interested in doing that."

Hamilton said UT hopes to do that through education.

Fulmer said the way McGlothlin handled his punishment was a major reason why he was allowed to return.

"He did what he was supposed to do," Fulmer said. "I'm very comfortable with the way he responded. The main thing was the attitude."