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Augusta State Sports Medicine
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| John Sullivan Assistant AD/Sports Medicine Office: 706-731-7908 Cell: 706-825-9458 E-Mail: jsullivan@aug.edu |
Lisa Cummins Assistant Athletic Trainer Office: 706-729-2336 Cell: 706-231-8312 E-Mail: lcummins@aug.edu |
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Clarissa
Wilburn |
Haruka Sakauchi Office: 706-731-7908 Cell: 209-543-2764 E-Mail: hsakauch@aug.edu |
2012-13 Drug Policy
Augusta State University and the Intercollegiate Athletic
Department recognize the stressful nature of collegiate athletic
participation. The use of controlled substances (narcotics,
marijuana, stimulants, etc.), and the abuse of alcohol by
student-athletes, will adversely affect their academic performance,
athletic achievements and personal well-being. Student-athletes who
abuse controlled substances put themselves, their teammates and the
program at risk.
For these reasons, Augusta State University Athletics does not
tolerate substance abuse, use of any substance banned by the
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), underage drinking
or the inappropriate use of alcohol. Participation in
intercollegiate athletics at Augusta State University is optional;
however, student-athletes who refuse to consent to drug screening
under this policy, or refuse to participate in substance abuse
prevention educational programs, will not be eligible to
participate in intercollegiate athletics at Augusta State
University.
The Athletic Department is committed to enhancing the life of
every student-athlete who comes to our campus and chooses to
participate in our athletic program. Augusta State University
Athletics believes that a strong substance abuse prevention
education and a drug-screening program are essential in the
protection of student-athletes from the harmful effects of drug and
alcohol abuse.
Alcohol
Alcoholism is a progressive disorder that often leads to serious
physical and psychological illnesses as well as unacceptable social
behavior. Any student athlete who chooses to consume alcohol will
be held accountable for any alcohol related incident in which
he/she is involved, whether there are legal implications or not. If
a student athlete is involved in an alcohol related incident with
legal implications under campus, state, or federal laws, he or she
will be subjected to the same or similar sanctions as those for a
positive drug test. If a student athlete is involved in an obvious
alcohol related incident that is without legal implications, the
head coach, athletic director, and head athletic trainer will
determine if the circumstances warrant counseling intervention
and/or any additional sanctions.
Tobacco
NCAA legislation prohibits the use of tobacco products by all
athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, managers, and officials, in
all sports during practice and competition. The use of smoke and
smokeless tobacco is prohibited in all Augusta State University
buildings including the Physical Education Athletic Complex. Use of
tobacco products is also prohibited in all ASU practices, games,
University vehicles and during University sponsored travel.
Violators of this policy are subject to disciplinary sanctions by
the head coach, and/or athletic director.
Dietary Supplements
Some dietary supplements and "over-the-counter" (otc) medications
such as cold medications. may contain substances banned by the NCAA
which would be detected by screening procedures. If a banned
substance is detected, even though it was ingested with a legal
supplement or medication, the student-athlete will be in violation
of the drug screening policy. In order to help avoid these types of
situations, the NCAA has contracted the Resource Exchange Center,
or REC to provide student-athletes and coaches with accurate
information regarding dietary supplements and "over-the-counter"
(otc) medications. The REC can be contacted toll free by phone at
877-202-0769 or on-line at www.drugfreesport.com/rec
Some weight reduction medications that are available
over-the-counter have been linked to scores of deaths in the U.S.
Therefore, all student-athletes and coaches are advised to refrain
from using dietary supplements without the consent and direction of
a physician. If you are seeing a physician other than an ASU team
physician be sure to make them aware that you are an athlete
subject to drug screening if a prescription for medication is used
in your treatment.
Purpose and Goals
Augusta State University Athletics has established the following
purpose and goals for the substance abuse prevention, education and
drug-screening program.
Through informational team meetings and educational seminars, the
Augusta State University student-athlete will be informed about the
NCAA drug testing procedures and be made aware of the list of
substances banned by the NCAA.
Through team meetings, meetings of all student-athletes, and
educational seminars, the Augusta State University student-athlete
will be made aware of the substance abuse policies of the Augusta
State University Intercollegiate Athletic Department.
Augusta State University Athletics will provide educational
programs concerning the effects of substance abuse on athletic
activities and the health and well being of student-athletes.
Through education, Augusta State University Athletics will assist
student-athletes to cope effectively with destructive behaviors and
the stresses of academic-athletic life.
Augusta State University Athletics will actively promote healthy
lifestyles, which will help student-athletes succeed.
Augusta State University Athletics will confidentially identify
participants who may be abusing specific drugs.
Augusta State University Athletics will encourage, and in some
cases require, student-athletes to seek counseling and treatment
for drug or alcohol problems.
Augusta State University Athletics will promote a safe and healthy
environment for all student-athletes engaging in intercollegiate
athletics.
Education
At the beginning of each academic year, the Athletic Department
will present at least one substance abuse prevention education
seminar. All in-coming student-athletes, freshmen and transfers,
must participate in a substance abuse prevention seminar. Returning
student-athletes will be required to participate in these seminars
unless instructed otherwise. Augusta State University Athletics is
committed to continually enhancing the educational component of the
drug education program as well as other important areas and will
seek to provide additional seminars throughout the academic year
concerning substance abuse prevention, healthy living and academic
enhancement. All educational seminars are mandatory for
student-athletes as well as coaches. Coaches and staff may excuse
themselves during parts of the presentation in order to permit a
free dialogue between presenters and students.
Drug Testing
Drug testing will be conducted on selective and random basis,
usually with unannounced tests. Student-athletes may be subjected
to testing during the entrance physical screening, or at anytime
throughout the academic year. Testing may include team testing,
pre-season testing, or post-season/championship testing. A
student-athlete who refuses to participate in a drug screening, or
fails to report for a scheduled screening within the allotted time,
will be considered medically ineligible. Procedures and sanctions
will be consistent with those of a positive test.
Individualized Reasonable Suspicion Screening
Any student-athlete may be subject to testing at any time when, if
in the judgement of the Director of Athletics, there is reasonable
cause to suspect that the student is engaged in the use of any of
the drugs prohibited by this policy. Such individualized reasonable
suspicion may be based on information from any source deemed
reliable by the Director of Athletics. The content of the
information may include, but is not limited to: (1) observed
possession or use of substances that reasonably appear to be drugs
of the type prohibited, (2) arrest or conviction for a criminal
offense related to the possession, use, or trafficking of drugs of
the type prohibited, and/or (3) observed abnormal appearance,
conduct or behavior, including absence from academic duties,
training or competition; reasonably interpretable as being caused
by the use of drugs of the type prohibited.
Upon receipt of such information, the Director of Athletics shall
confer with University legal and medical representatives in
determining whether there is reasonable cause to suspect that the
student-athlete is engaged in prohibited drug use. Individualized
reasonable suspicion means that if the available facts were
conveyed to a reasonable person unfamiliar with the student-athlete
or the athletic program, that person would conclude that there is a
factual basis for determining that the student-athlete is using a
prohibited drug.
If individualized reasonable suspicion is found to exist, the
Director of Athletics will meet with the student-athlete. At the
meeting the student-athlete will have the opportunity to provide an
explanation for his/her behavior. However, if the explanation is
not satisfactory to the Director of Athletics, the Director of
Athletics will provide written notice specifying the date, time,
and place at which the test will be conducted. The consequences for
failure to cooperate and participate in the drug screening or a
positive test for a banned substance will result in sanctions
consistent with those outlined for random testing.
Self Help/Safe Harbor
As a one-time opportunity, a
student-athlete that has not tested positive prior to this
occurrence, yet has knowingly ingested a banned substance may seek
confidential help from their coach or the sports medicine staff
prior to notification of a pending drug screening. At that time the
student-athlete must undergo a test to determine which substances
are in the system and in what amounts. The athlete will immediately
be deemed medically ineligible to participate for a period of up to
30 days to allow the substance to evacuate the system. The medical
staff will determine when a second drug test is to be performed as
well as the need for a health assessment. While this occurrence
will be considered as the student-athlete's first positive test, no
other sanctions will be applied.
Sanctions For Positive Test Results
In the event that a sample tests positive at the laboratory, the
lab will notify the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports
Medicine. That notification will include the name of the person
with the positive test as well as the substance category that was
violated. That person will in turn notify the Director of Athletics
with the same information. At that time the following sanctions
will be applied.
First Offense
The student-athlete will be notified of a positive test in a
meeting with the Director of Athletics and the respective head
coach. The parents of the student-athlete will be notified. The
student-athlete will be considered medically ineligible, and will
not be permitted to participate in practices or competition for a
period of time set by the Director of Athletics. The period of
ineligibility begins on the day of the official notification and
lasts for a minimum period of 14 days. The Athletic Director will
consider recommendations of the respective coach, the
recommendation of the Director of Counseling and any other relevant
circumstances. After due consideration, the Director of Athletics
has the options to discontinue scholarship assistance, extend the
period of ineligibility up to a period of one year, to require
participation in an approved treatment or counseling program,
undergo mandatory health assessments, or any combination thereof.
In addition, once a student-athlete tests positive for a banned
substance, random selection will no longer apply, and the
student-athlete can expect to be selected for participation in drug
screening more frequently than other student-athletes. Before the
student-athlete can regain eligibility the student-athlete must be
retested with negative findings.
Second Offense
A student-athlete who is otherwise in good standing as a team
member yet tests positive for a second time during his or her
eligibility will be declared medically ineligible to participate
for one calendar year. Parents of the student-athlete will be
notified. Scholarship assistance will end with the current semester
of the positive test and will not be reinstated for one calendar
year from the time of discontinuance.
In order to return to good standing and regain eligibility the
student-athlete must have a recent negative test, must undergo
regular health assessments as conducted by the sports medicine
staff and provide proof of satisfactory participation in a
pre-approved substance abuse counseling or treatment program. The
treatment program must be approved by the Director of the
Counseling Center of Augusta State University and the university
will not be responsible for any charges incurred as a result of
such counseling. Any student-athlete that tests positive can expect
to be selected for participation in drug screening more frequently
than other student-athletes.
Third Offense
A student-athlete who tests positive for a third time during his
or her eligibility will be immediately and permanently expelled
from intercollegiate athletics at Augusta State University. This
includes loss of all athletic-related financial aid.
Appeal Process
If a student feels that the results of the test are in error, they
may request that the split part of the sample be retested at the
same laboratory that performed the original test at their expense.
If the student-athlete feels that sanctions are unduly harsh or
unfair due to unusual circumstances, they may appeal in writing, to
the Vice President for Student Affairs within two weeks of the
official notification of sanctions by the Director of Athletics.
The Vice President for Student Affairs will render a final decision
in writing. The student-athlete will remain ineligible during the
appeal process.
Appendix:
Screening and Testing Procedures
The following procedures have been established to provide a safe
and secure program for screening Augusta State University
student-athletes for substance abuse.
Drug screening will be coordinated by the Augusta State University
department of Sports Medicine which will take the necessary steps
to insure that specimen collection procedures are strictly
followed.
Notification of a pending drug screening will be made to an
athlete's coach, who will notify their respective student-athletes
that they have been selected. The student-athletes must report to
the testing site at the assigned time. Once notified, failure for
any reason to report to the testing site and within that timeframe
will automatically be considered the same as a positive test and
will be treated as such.
Student-athletes will be required to present a picture I.D. at the
time of the screening.
Urine specimens will be taken under direct observation in order to
prevent specimen tampering and/or substitution. Any attempt to
adulterate or manipulate the urine specimen will constitute a
positive test.
The specimen will be divided at the lab with a portion reserved
for re-testing if the initial testing of the specimen is either
positive or suspect, or if the student-athlete sees the need to
appeal the findings.
At the time of drug screening, the student-athlete will have an
opportunity to disclose the names and/or types of any medically
prescribed or over-the counter substances they might have been
taking that may affect the results of the screening.
The student-athletes must remain at the collection site until
excused by the lab personnel.
If the laboratory determines that any banned substances are
present in the sample, the Director of Athletics will be
confidentially notified through the Director of Sports Medicine of
the identity of the athlete with the positive test.
The Director of Athletics will arrange a meeting with the
student-athlete and the respective head coach. No other person will
be notified unless the Director of Athletics deems such a
notification is necessary to protect the student-athlete's health
and interests.
Terms And Definitions
Student-Athlete: For the purposes of this policy, a
student-athlete is any team member in any sport in which Augusta
State University competes in NCAA sanctioned competitions.
Student-athletes who are ineligible or have red-shirt status will
also be subjected to drug screening.
Compliance: Student-athletes who refuse to participate in
drug education and screening will not be eligible to practice or
compete as a member of any team at Augusta State University.
Student-athletes who have tested positive for banned substances and
fail to comply with imposed sanctions will not be eligible to
practice or compete as a member of any team at Augusta State
University.
Regulations: This policy details the regulations and actions
for the Augusta State University Intercollegiate Athletics
Department regarding substance abuse issues. Student-athletes at
Augusta State University are expected to be aware of, and to follow
any additional policies outlined by the NCAA and Augusta State
University.
NCAA Policy: If a student-athlete is subjected to testing by
the NCAA and the result is a positive test, the following will
apply: the student-athlete shall remain ineligible for all
regular-season and post-season competition during the time period
ending one calendar year after the student-athlete's positive drug
test, and until the student-athlete re-tests negative. (NCAA By-Law
18.4.1.5.1.)
GSU System: Regulations of the Georgia State University
system apply to all student-athletes at Augusta State University.
Student-athletes will be held accountable for violations of the
student conduct code regarding substance abuse.
Banned Substances
Tests will be conducted for THC/marijuana, cocaine, opiates, PCP,
amphetamines, anabolic steroids and barbiturates. In addition, the
Athletic Department reserves the right to test for any other drugs
banned by the NCAA (see attached NCAA banned substance list). The
student-athlete should consult the NCAA banned substance list when
purchasing over the counter medications or when receiving a
prescription from his or her private physician. The ASU team
physician is familiar with this list and is a good source of
information.
Referral and Assessment
Student-athletes who test positive for drug use will be
encouraged, and in some cases may be required, to participate in a
program that provides assessment and counseling. The Counseling
Center is a resource that is available on campus to provide
assessment and counseling at no cost to students. However, a list
of other acceptable counseling programs will be provided upon
request for the student-athlete to utilize if they wish. However,
the student will be responsible for any and all charges incurred
for services rendered from outside vendors. It will also be the
responsibility of the student-athlete to insure that any counseling
program chosen is acceptable to Director of Counseling Services at
Augusta State University for the type of counseling required.
Additionally, the student-athlete must make arrangements to have
information released to ASU officials regarding satisfactory
attendance rates and the outcome of the program.
Amendments
Augusta State University and the Intercollegiate Athletic
Department, reserve the right to amend or change the Substance
Abuse Policy, Education and Screening Program.
Printable Forms
Notification Form
Reasonable Suspicion Form
Banned Drugs
NCAA Banned Drug Classes
Printable Banned Drug List
Dissinger Insurance
Dissinger Insurance Web Site
