Drug testing policy adopted by athletic department
Athletes at College of Eastern Utah attended a mandatory meeting in the BDAC explaining the college’s drug testing program Monday night. Each student in attendance signed a copy of the policy recognizing their responsibility to review and be familiar with the its contents.
Athletes at College of Eastern Utah attended a mandatory meeting in the BDAC explaining the college’s drug testing program Monday night. Each student in attendance signed a copy of the policy recognizing their responsibility to review and be familiar with the its contents.
Eight members of the CEU community serve on the committee including a representative of the counseling center, coach, ASCEU leadership, assistant dean of students, campus police, associate vice president of institutional advancement and auxiliaries, athletic director and a committee chair appointed by President Ryan Thomas.
Instructor Grady McEvoy is the committee chair and presented the guidelines to the student athletes. We have put this document together “for the betterment of the school, for you and your fellow athletes.”
“My suggestion to you is if you have a problem to talk to your coaches so we can begin working with you,” he said.
He presented a PowerPoint presentation that said testing would be conducted throughout the year in season, out of season and summer school.
CEU’s athletic department is concerned that direct drug side effects may cause serious injury to students athletes and in team sports, their teammates and opponents. “It is our philosophy and policy to help student athletes help themselves with regard to the use of illicit drugs, anabolic steroids, prescription medication, and inappropriate use of over the counter drugs,” the policy states. “The department is concerned about overuse or abuse of alcohol.”
The policy states that violations of campus alcolohol policy will be considered equivalent to a positive drug test.
McEvoy said the program is required of all student athletes including scholarship, non-scholarships and red shirts.
Random individual tests will be done as well as team testing, testing for reasonable suspicion and at the coach’s request.
McEvoy explained that if a student athlete voluntarily approaches the athletic department or member of the substance abuse committee for help with his or her drug problem, prior to request for testing, he or she will be according confidentiality and professional help. An athlete who asks for assistance but does not follow the terms of his or her rehabilitation will be sanctioned according to post-test procedures for positive results.
He reminded the athletes that a positive is a positive and defenses such as passive inhalation of someone put it in my drink would not be accepted. “A positive is a positive, period. No excuses … If your are somewhere where this is taking place, leave.”
In the event an athlete elects to transfer to another school as a consequence of sanctions imposed under this policy, the committee may send documentation of its dealings with this student to the transfer school.
Athletic Director Dave Paur talked about athletes transferring after they have tested positive. “No matter where you go in the United States, the trace will come back home [CEU] ¦ or you will not compete.
The appeal process involves a student athlete who believes the facts on which the substance abuse committee decision is based on erroneous or that the sanctions should not be imposed, the student athlete may file a written appeal with the vice president of institutional advancement within 15 days.
“This is truly a step in the right direction, a great leap in the right direction to help student athletes,” McEvoy concluded.
