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LU Policy Number: SP.006
Effective Date: 8/1/2016
Approval Date: 8/1/2016
Revised Date: 8/1/2020
Purpose: Pertains to drug use and testing for all student athletes
Additional Authority: N/A
Scope: All Students (COC&CGUS) of Life University
Approval Authority: President
Responsible Authority: Sports/Athletics
Definitions: N/A
Policy Title
Substance Abuse Education and Testing Policy
Policy Statement
Philosophy Statement
The Life University Athletic Department is concerned with the health, safety and welfare of the student-athletes who participate in its programs and represent the University in competitive athletics. Please note that the policy below represents the Life University Substance Abuse Education and Testing program, which is separate and distinct from the NAIA Official Policy Handbook and can be accessed at www.naia.org.
The use of illegal drugs, misuse of legal drugs and dietary supplements, use of performance-enhancing substances, abuse of alcohol and inappropriate use of tobacco are inconsistent with the standards expected of Life University student-athletes. Substance abuse not only impacts individual health and optimal performance, but also impacts others, whether it be in the classroom, living quarters, on campus or in our surrounding community. Substance use and abuse in sport can pose risks to a student-athlete’s health/safety and can negatively affect his/her academic and athletic performance. Substance use and abuse can also compromise the integrity of the ideals and core principles of Life University.
It is the intent of the Life University Athletic Department to have an effective educational program that will educate student-athletes about the dangers of substance abuse. We will evaluate the effectiveness of the education program yearly based upon the outcomes of our testing program.
Purpose
Life University believes that there is no place in athletics for substance abuse that can endanger the student-athlete or alter safe performance. The purpose of this program is to respond to problems directly related to the improper use of any inappropriate substance by establishing policies and procedures that guide an intervention program. It is a privilege, not a right, to participate in the athletic programs and represent Life University. The student-athlete is expected to acknowledge that this privilege has expectations for compliance with the substance abuse education and testing program as outlined in this document. We will, at all times, treat athletes with dignity and respect, and above all else we will protect their privacy. This program and its sanctions are independent of the NAIA and/or NCAA Drug Testing Program, and is conducted by Life University Athletic Care.
Objectives
Adhere to the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character Program:
- Respect your teammates, your opponents and the game.
- Behave responsibly and make appropriate decisions.
- Promote and preserve the integrity of NAIA athletics and the welfare of student athletes.
- Model good sportsmanship.
- Servant Leadership is sharing your enthusiasm for drug-free participation with teammates and the community.
Provide educational experiences in order to have informed athletes who are aware of the consequences of substance abuse.
Institute a screening and testing program to detect possible use of prohibited substances that may be used to enhance performance or alter behavior.
Develop intervention programs to provide athletes with a support system for rehabilitation and educational awareness.
Retain student-athletes in athletic programs by encouraging them to accept the responsibilities and consequences of the University drug education and student-athlete testing program.
Substance Abuse Education Program
Life University will conduct a drug and alcohol education program for student-athletes a minimum of once per year. Failure to attend a session may result in the student-athlete forfeiting their opportunity to participate in their sport. Alternative requirements will be available for participants who must miss a scheduled educational session for an approved reason. In addition, special educational programs may be arranged to learn more about the dangers of specific substances. Videos and posters may also be utilized for awareness.
Testing Program
As part of the student-athlete’s annual preseason medical screening, each student must inform the Athletic Training Staff of any prescription medication they may take. For reasonable suspicion, the coach will need to complete a Non-Random Drug Screen Authorization Form to be filed with the Director of Athletic Health Care. The random testing selection process utilizes a computerized system to ensure that all athletes are equally eligible for testing. Ten percent of athletes in each varsity level sport twice a quarter will be tested. Any athlete who had a prior positive test result may be retested at any time. The athlete will be personally notified and MUST report to the testing site. Once an athlete reports they must produce a sample within 45 minutes or the test will be considered to have a positive result and the consequences of a positive drug test followed. When the initial screening sample is tested, the results will be reported to the Director of Athletics and Head Coach. The Head Coach must have the athlete sign the form within 24 hours of receiving results. The use of these results is for Athletics use only and any outside departmental use is prohibited.
Drugs to be Tested
The following six (6) panel drugs shall be tested:
1. Amphetamines
2. OxyContin
3. Cocaine
4. THC (Marijuana)
5. Opiates
6. MDMA (Ecstasy)
List of Banned Substances
The following classes of drugs are banned:
Stimulants
Anabolic Agents
Alcohol and Beta Blockers (banned for rifle only)
Diuretics and Other Masking Agents
Street Drugs
Peptide Hormones and Analogues
Anti-estrogens
Beta-2 Agonists
Drugs and Procedures Subject to Restrictions
a. Blood Doping.
b. Local Anesthetics (under some conditions).
c. Manipulation of Urine Samples.
d. Beta-2 Agonists permitted only by prescription and inhalation.
e. Caffeine if concentrations in urine exceed 15 micrograms/ml.
Nutritional/Dietary Supplements Warning
Before consuming any nutritional/dietary supplement product, review the product with the Athletic Training staff.
Dietary supplements, including vitamins and minerals, are not well regulated and may cause a positive drug test result.
Student-athletes have tested positive and lost their eligibility using dietary supplements.
Many dietary supplements are contaminated with banned drugs not listed on the label.
Any product containing a dietary supplement ingredient is taken at your own risk.
Some Examples of Banned Substances in Each Drug Class
Note: There is no complete list of banned substances. Do not rely on this list to rule out any supplement ingredient. Check with your Athletic Training staff prior to using a supplement.
Stimulants: amphetamine (Adderall); caffeine (guarana); cocaine; ephedrine; fenfluramine (Fen); methamphetamine; methylphenidate (Ritalin); phentermine (Phen); synephrine (bitter orange); methylhexaneamine, “bath salts” (mephedrone) etc. Exceptions: phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine are not banned.
Anabolic Agents (sometimes listed as a chemical formula, such as 3,6,17-androstenetrione):
Androstenedione; boldenone; clenbuterol; DHEA (7-Keto); epi-trenbolone; etiocholanolone; methasterone; methandienone; nandrolone; norandrostenedione; ostarine, stanozolol; stenbolone; testosterone; trenbolone; etc.
Alcohol and Beta Blockers (banned for rifle only): alcohol; atenolol; metoprolol; nadolol; pindolol; propranolol; timolol; etc.
Diuretics (water pills) and Other Masking Agents: bumetanide; chlorothiazide; furosemide; hydrochlorothiazide; probenecid; spironolactone (canrenone); triameterene; trichlormethiazide; etc.
Street Drugs: heroin; marijuana; tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); synthetic cannabinoids (e.g., spice, K2, JWH-018, JWH-073)
Peptide Hormones and Analogues: growth hormone(hGH); human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG); erythropoietin (EPO); etc.
Anti-Estrogens: anastrozole; tamoxifen; formestane; ATD, clomiphene etc.
Beta-2 Agonists: bambuterol; formoterol; salbutamol; salmeterol; etc.
Additional examples of banned drugs can be found at www.ncaa.org/drugtesting.
Any substance that is chemically related to the class, even if it is not listed as an example, is also banned.
Information about ingredients in medications and nutritional/dietary supplements can be obtained by contacting the Resource Exchange Center (REC), 877-202-0769.
It is your responsibility to check with the appropriate or designated athletics staff before using any substance.
Consent to Drug Testing
Each student-athlete is required to sign a statement certifying that they have received a copy of the drug testing policy and guidelines and consent to provide urine specimen(s) for the purpose of analysis. If the student-athlete is under eighteen (18) years of age, the student-athlete’s parent or legal guardian must sign the drug testing consent form in addition to the student-athlete. The Life University Athletic Care staff shall maintain the original of the signed consent form and may provide a copy of the consent form to the student-athlete upon request.
Student-athletes have the right to refuse to consent to drug testing under this program; however, student-athletes who decline participation in the program will not be permitted to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
Student-athletes may be excused from drug testing only under the most extreme circumstances (e.g., illness, family emergency). The student- athlete is responsible for providing written verification for such absences. Approval of a verifiable absence is the responsibility of the AD.
Testing by Reasonable Suspicion
The Athletic Department reserves the right to mandate testing when there is reasonable suspicion of inappropriate drug use. Examples of this suspicion include but are not restricted to the following:
Reported possession and/or use of prohibited substances;
A student conduct charge relating to drug use/misuse;
Suspicious odor that is reminiscent of drug use;
An arrest or conviction related to prohibited substances; or
Documented unusual patterns of absence from training and/or competition that could be related to use of prohibited substances.
Onsite Testing to be Used
Regular and random testing by the institution shall be performed by utilizing an onsite drug screen test. Upon notification, the student-athlete must present themselves at the specified collection site at the designated time for testing. Observed urine collection will be carried out by an Athletic Trainer.
Reporting of Drug Test Results
Negative Test Result
If a sample is negative, the results will be communicated to the head coach.
Positive Test Result
In an addition to a positive test, failure of the athlete to cooperate with the testing procedure by not appearing for testing process within the specified time given, not producing a sample or attempting to alter or destroy the sample will all be equivalent to a “positive” test result.
The Director of Athletic Health Care will inform the Head Coach and AD. The Head Coach will then review the positive test results with the student-athlete in person.
The student-athlete will sign the custody and control form at which time they may contest the positive drug test result.
If the student athlete does not contest the results at the time of notification, they relinquish their right to appeal any sanction against them under Consequences of a Positive Test Result (below).
If the initial screening is contested, the original sample will be retested to confirm results prior to being sent to a lab.
A Medical Review Officer will review and confirm the results.
If the laboratory result is positive, the student-athlete will be billed for the lab analysis.
If contested, the Director of Athletic Health Care will report the lab result to the Head Coach and AD of any positive findings.
Whether positive or negative.
The Head Coach will inform the student-athlete of the result. If positive, see next section.
The Director of Athletic Health Care will record the finding in the student-athlete’s Athletic Training System Electronic Medical Record.
Consequences of a Positive Test Result
Note: Positive tests are cumulative over the period of time in which you are a student-athlete at Life University. A second or third positive test may occur at any time after the first violation and does not have to be in the same class of drugs as the any previous positive test.
First “positive” test result
The student-athlete will meet with the Head Coach or Coaches of the respective sport(s) to discuss the result.
The underage student-athlete will be asked to notify his/her parents or guardians in the presence of the Head Coach or Coaches of their respective sport(s) at this meeting if possible.
The student-athlete will be suspended from 10% of the scheduled competitions. The suspension will be implemented through the subsequent season if necessary.
The student-athlete must be retested, however, the retest will occur no earlier than 4 weeks from the original positive. If the retest is positive the student-athlete will be subject to consequences of a second positive test result.
Second “positive” test result
The student-athlete will meet with the Head Coach or Coaches of the respective sport(s) to discuss the result.
The underage student-athlete will be asked to notify his/her parents or guardians in the presence of the Head Coach or Coaches of their respective sport(s) at this meeting if possible.
The student-athlete will be suspended from 25% of the scheduled competitions. The suspension will be implemented through the subsequent season if necessary.
A student-athlete will be required to participate in the drug counseling program, described within this policy.
The student-athlete MUST have a negative result before he/she can be reinstated on the active game roster. The first re-test may occur ten (10) days from the original test date. However, a follow up positive test will constitute as a 3rd positive result so student-athlete should choose their retest to return to play wisely.
Third “positive” test result
The student-athlete will be dismissed from their sport team and other related Athletic Department participation. All athletic related financial aid will be terminated at the end of the quarter.
Counseling Component
The purpose of the counseling component is to provide assistance, direction and resources for student-athletes who need additional support as a result of positive test, physician referral or self-addressed needs. This component seeks to provide appropriate follow-up and rehabilitation of student-athletes testing positive while addressing their psychological, social and medical wellbeing.
Up to six counseling services will be provided to the student-athlete by Life University and any additional referred services will be at the student-athlete’s expense.
Counseling services should be initiated within five (5) business days of the meeting with the Head Coach. ESPYR will reach out to the student-athlete directly to schedule an appointment. A minimum of 3 sessions must be completed and can incorporate peer pressure counseling.
Successful completion of the counseling component will be determined by counselor recommendation but student-athlete must have completed the required minimum of 3 sessions within 4 weeks of the date the student-athlete signs the positive test form. Failure to complete counseling within the 4 week timeline will extend the 25% suspension to 50% of scheduled competitions.
Visits with counselors will be monitored by the Director of Athletic Health Care.
The counseling component must be completed before the student-athlete returns to play, even if the 25% (or 50%) suspension has been served.
The Director of Athletics may withhold scholarship if the student-athlete is not making sufficient progress on completing required counseling.
Self-Referral
A self‐referral occurs when a student asks a coach, AD or Athletic Care Staff for help and an assessment prior to any known violations of this policy. A second method of self‐referral occurs when a coach, Athletic Director or Athletic Trainer confronts a student about a possible drug violation (i.e., the student has not been reported to a coach, Athletic Director, or Athletic Trainer by an eye witness), and the student admits to the violation.
A self‐referral will not be subject to any athletic disciplinary action nor count as their first offense provided that:
The student completes a drug assessment and counseling program and verification is provided to the Athletic Director.
The student agrees to submit to follow‐up drug tests whenever requested. If the student tests positive during the follow‐up drug tests, the student will be subject to first‐time offense consequences.
The student meets with a Life University Student Affairs Representative for additional support resources and to discuss potential university (non-athletic) response if drug/substance use continues.
A self‐referral will become a first offense and subject to consequences if:
A law enforcement agency is involved in the investigation of a potential violation, or either formal or informal charges have been filed before the student attempted to self‐refer.
Evidence of a violation is known by any athletics staff member before the student attempted to self‐refer.
A self‐referral may be used only once during the academic career of a student at Life University and may not be used after the student becomes a first offender.
Special Conditions
All individuals with prior positive drug test results will be subject to unannounced drug testing throughout their athletic eligibility as part of their treatment program.
All individuals with prior positive or negative test results will have the same chance as any other student-athlete to be randomly selected for testing at the next and subsequent random drug tests.
Procedure(s)
N/A
Other Notes
N/A
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