Drug Education And Testing Program

Since the dawn of competitive athletics, participants have attempted to gain an advantage over an opponent through better equipment, sorcery, or some special substance. In more recent years drugs have been a means of seeking this advantage or of countering the psychological pressures of competition. The department of athletics at East Carolina University believes that the use of drugs and alcohol have a negative effect on the performance of the student-athlete both on the playing field and in the classroom.

 

It is the intent of this testing and education program:

• to deter the use of drugs and alcohol among ECU student-athletes.
• to assist in identifying student-athletes who are substance abusers.
• to promote an educational program about illicit substances.
• to assist student-athletes who are in need of treatment.

Testing Procedures

 

The following measures are taken to clarify misinformation and answer potential questions:

• A written description of the drug testing program shall be provided to each student-athlete.
• The program will be explained to all student-athletes, either individually or in a small group, by a knowledgeable member of the ECU staff.
• Strict confidentiality will be maintained regarding all positive test results.
• A written notification form for testing of urine samples and authorizing limited release of information shall be signed by each student-athlete upon complete understanding of the form and clarification of any questions.
• The test may be announced or unannounced and will be conducted during both the season and off-season. Student-athletes will be notified in writing no earlier than 24 hours prior to testing for announced tests. No prior notification will be given for unannounced tests, only immediate written notification is required.
• All student-athletes will be notified in sufficient time to complete urine collection. If a student-athlete misses the test after being notified, he or she will be considered as a positive test and treated accordingly.
• The tests will be conducted by a qualified laboratory and all positive tests will be confirmed as positive by a different method of testing the urine. The cost of the tests will be defrayed by the department of athletics at no expense to the student-athlete.
• The results of the tests will be delivered by the laboratory to the team physician who will then counsel the student-athlete individually and privately regarding the health hazards of any particular substance detected in the student-athlete’s urine.

Positive Drug Test Consequences

 

1.  First Positive Test:

• Meet with head coach; parents are called.
• Counsel with team physician.
• Weekly testing as deemed necessary by team physician.
• If the problem is deemed sufficiently serious by the athletics director, the student-athlete may be suspended from athletic participation.

2.  Second Positive Test:

• Notification of parents.
• Suspension or loss of eligibility for a minimum of one year.
• Counseling and rehabilitation.
• Eligible for follow-up weekly testing.

3.  Third Positive Test

• Notification of parents.
• Permanent cancellation of eligibility.
• Counseling and rehabilitation.

A Hearing and Appeals Process is Provided.

Details are available in the complete version of the drug education and testing program literature.

A complete version of the drug education and testing program will be provided for all student-athletes through the sports medicine division.