YSU Drug Testing Policy

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YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
DRUG EDUCATION AND TESTING PROGRAM

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics of Youngstown State University firmly believes that the use of drugs and alcohol can have a negative effect on the performance of the student-athlete, both in the classroom and in sports. This program is designed to deal with this critical area.

A. Purpose of Drug Testing

Although educational efforts will continue to be major thrust of the department, a program of testing of the urine of student-athletes will be undertaken as an adjunct to this program.

The purpose of drug testing is as follows:

To serve as a deterrent to drug or alcohol use by the athlete;
To identify athletes who are addicted to substances;
To promote education and arrange treatment for the athlete who needs help;
To protect the integrity of Youngstown State University.

Every attempt has been and will be made to protect the rights of the individual student-athlete and the institution.

B. Method of Drug Testing

Student-athletes shall be informed about the drug testing program. A copy of this program will be given to the student-athlete and a copy sent to each parent or guardian.

The team physician and/or designate shall explain to the members of each squad being tested the procedures of the drug testing program and answer any questions. A consent form for testing of urine samples and authorization for limited release of information shall be given to each athlete to sign. YSU Drug Testing Consent

Tests will be primarily conducted for drugs of abuse, such as amphetamines, cannabinoids, (substances contained in marijuana), cocaine and other controlled substances. They may also include procedures to detect anabolic steroids and other so-called performance enhancing drugs. All tests will be performed on urine.

Effective February 1, 1999, the testing will be unannounced and more frequent. Because of this change, student-athletes may be inconvenienced during practices, meetings, strength-training sessions, etc. The student-athletes may even be tested in times (early a.m., meal times, and/or late evenings).

Urine will be collected by professional personnel and will be numbered. The trainer will match the individual player with a master list that is prepared so that the signature of the athlete will correspond with the number on the specimen bottle. The specimen will be transported to the clinical laboratory where the director of the laboratory will proceed with the testing. The master list of numbered urine will be given to the head team physician and/or a designee. The team physician and/or the designee will know the identification for the individual athlete. Refusal to provide a urine specimen will be considered a positive test result.

C. Dealing with Positive Tests

If the results of the urine tests are positive, these results will be given to the team physician and/or the designee by number. The team physician and/or designee will inform the athlete of the presence of a substance in his or her urine. The team physician and/or designee will advise the athlete of the nature of the substance and the health hazards involved.

The team physician and/or designee may collect a second urine sample, on a discretionary basis, which may be analyzed by a second laboratory and confirmed by the laboratory, if positive.

Drugs banned for use by the student-athlete will be divided into three categories. Sanctions will be imposed differently in each of these groups.

Group A
    Marijuana and hashish (THC)
        (Street names: grass, pot, weed, tea, Mary Jane) Alcohol

Group B
    Stimulants - Amphetamines, Ritalin and related compounds
        (Street names: uppers, pep pills, bennies, dexies, speed)
    Depressants - Methaqualone, barbiturates, diazepams and
    related compounds.
        (Street names: downers, stumblers, ludes, sopors, red devils,
        yellow jackets and rainbows)
    Hallucinogens - LSD, PCP, Mescaline and related compounds
        (Street names: acid, scramblers, mind benders)
    Anabolic Steroids - Winstrol, Dianabol, Deca-Durabolin and related
    compounds

Group C
Cocaine and Heroin

SANCTIONS TO BE IMPOSED IN THE CASE OF POSITIVE TESTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

GROUP A THC, Alcohol
GROUP B Stimulants, Depressants, Hallucinogens; Anabolic Steroids

First Positive

Probation. The positive individual will be unable to dress or travel for one contest immediately following positive test findings.
The Head Coach will be informed of the results of the test.
The team physician and/or designee will discuss the positive test with the student-athlete. If the athlete admits to a problem with the substance, he/she will be referred to a drug counselor. If the athlete refuses counseling or denies a problem with the substance, urine tests will be instituted and continued for the remainder of their career. Those athletes going directly to counseling will also be regularly tested.

Second Positive - (any drugs in Groups A or B)

Suspension of sport-related activities (minimum of 6 months - all sports) but not study table or conditioning program until a negative specimen is collected.
Evaluation by a Drug Counselor and regular attendance to whatever program is suggested.
Reinstatement can be considered after a period of time (minimum of 6 months from date of 2nd positive) but be approved by the Head Coach, team physician and/or designee and Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Weekly drug tests for the remainder of the athletic career.

Third Positive - (any drug in groups A or B)

Removal from the squad for a minimum of one calendar year from the date of the third positive test. Financial aid may be continued as long as the athlete follows certain guidelines (attendance at class, continued drug testing and continued drug counseling).
If unable to remain "clean" for the entire suspension year - permanent expulsion.

GROUP C - Cocaine and Heroin

First Positive

Suspension of sports-related activities but not study table or conditioning program until "clean" (minimum of 6 months - all sports).
Evaluation by a Drug Counselor and regular attendance to whatever program is suggested.
Reinstatement can be considered after a period of time (minimum of 6 months) but must be approved by the Head Coach, team physician and/or designee and Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Drug tests for the remainder of the athletic career.

Second Positive

Removal from the squad for a minimum of one calendar year from the date of second positive test. Financial aid may be continued as long as the athlete follows certain guidelines (attendance at class, continued drug testing and continued drug counseling). If unable to prove "clean" for the entire suspension year - permanent EXPULSION.

Alcohol

Because alcohol is the most frequently abused drug in our society, abuse by a student- athlete during the time the student is under the jurisdiction for the college will result in specific sanctions.

Each of the following instances constitutes a CLASS A offense and will be treated as first positive drug test:

Conviction of Driving While Impaired (DWI)
Conviction of any other offense with legal intoxication as one of the charges.

The following constitutes CLASS B offenses:

Drunken and disorderly conduct
Public intoxication
Destruction of property while under the influence
Assault while under the influence

The sanctions are as follows:

One Class A offense - First positive drug test
One Class A + One Class B Offense = Second positive drug test
Two Class B offenses = First positive drug test
Three Class B offense = Second positive drug test

General Principles

As a required condition for any student to be a member of a Youngstown State University varsity intercollegiate athletics team, he/she must agree to participate in the Athletics Department's Drug Testing Program. Such monitoring is considered an extension of the ongoing physical examination of our athletes and is in the best interests of both the student-athlete and the YSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Any athlete who does not report for scheduled testing or counseling will be subject to suspension or dismissal. It is possible that a formal drug rehabilitation program (in-patient) will be recommended for the athlete. The Athletic Department will encourage and be supportive of the student-athlete's participation in an appropriate drug treatment but will not assume financial responsibility for this treatment.
We strongly urge that parents avail themselves of the University's insurance program which assumes some of the expenses for illness and injury not athletically related.
The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will make every effort to keep test results confidential except as provided above and will oppose disclosure thereof to any persons within or outside the University.
Multiple testing may be done with each athlete.
All positive test results are considered cumulative (annually carried over) for the career of the Youngstown State student-athlete. An 18 month period of negative tests, after a positive test, may result in the removal of one positive test during a career.
Any student-athlete found guilty of selling any drug shall be immediately and permanently terminated from the squad and his/her athletically related financial aid (if any) shall be revoked.
Any drug not specifically listed on the penalty chart is subject to classification by the team physician and/or designee for inclusion on the chart.

DRUG CATEGORIES FOR SANCTIONS

Group A     marijuana and hashish (THC)
Group B     stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids
Group C     cocaine and heroin

SANCTIONS - GROUP A & B

First positive - probation - unable to start and travel for one contest immediately following positive result findings.

Second positive - suspension from all varsity teams for minimum of six (6) months.

Third positive-removal from team for one calendar year, if unable to keep "clean" for the entire year - EXPULSION.

SANCTIONS - GROUP C

First positive - suspension from all varsity teams for minimum of six (6) months.

Second positive - removal from all varsity teams for one calendar year. If unable to keep "clean" for the entire year - EXPULSION.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

If positive, the athlete will be subject to unannounced regular testing for remainder of career.
Positive tests are cumulative (annually carried over) for a career. An 18 month period of negative tests after a positive test may result in the removal of one positive test for a career.
Student-athlete found guilty of dealing in drugs will be terminated from the program.
All Varsity teams will be tested
Multiple testing may be done with each athlete
Tests will be unannounced
Tests conducted throughout the year

EXCEPTIONS

Any exception to the above regulations must be authorized by the Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.