Drug Testing

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 any time throughout the academic year. Testing may include team testing, pre-season testing, or postseason/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.

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 after which the student athlete must be re-tested with negative results. The director of athletics will consider recommendations of the respective coach, the recommendation of the head athletic trainer 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 tests positive for a second time during his or her eligibility will be immediately and permanently expelled from intercollegiate athletics at Georgia Gwinnett College. This includes loss of all athletic-related financial aid.

Appeals Process

If a student feels that the results of the tests 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 director of athletics. The director of athletics will appoint an appeals committee and the student will present his/her case to the committee. The committee will notify the student in writing of their decision within one week of the appeal. The student athlete will remain ineligible during the appeal process.

Screening and Testing Procedures

The following procedures have been established to provide a safe and secure program for screening Georgia Gwinnett College student athletes for substance abuse.

• Drug screening will be coordinated by the Georgia Gwinnett College office 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.