Drug Testing Form
The Athletic Department at The University of the Virgin Islands is committed to the physical and mental health and well-being, safety, and welfare of its student-athletes. The improper use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the use of illicit street drugs, and the use of performance enhancers/dietary supplements can have a negative effect on the health and performance of student-athletes. It is for this reason that drug testing will be conducted at The University of the Virgin Islands.
The purpose of drug testing and education is to serve as a deterrent to the use of illegal drugs and banned substances, to identify those who are using these drugs and substances, to promote education for all student-athletes, to suggest counseling and treatment services for student-athletes, and to avoid harm to the reputation of The University of the Virgin Islands and all those connected with its intercollegiate athletic program. The most recent NCAA/NAIA Banned Substance List serves as the detailed outline of the UVI Athletics drug testing policy and can be made available upon request through the Athletic Training staff. Student-athletes who are taking any medications are required to report any/all medication to the Athletic Training Staff via their medical history form via SportsWare at the start of each academic year and must update them immediately of any changes made within the rest of the year. This is especially important to list in advance of a drug test to avoid cross-contaminations and positive test results of an acceptable substance.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Both the NCAA and NAIA DO NOT approve medical marijuana, regardless of whether it may be legal in the U.S. Virgin Islands or the state/country of residence for the student-athlete.
As a condition of participation on a team and in the athletic program, all student-athletes, student assistant coaches including graduate assistants, and managers must consent to mandatory drug testing by signing the Drug Testing Consent Form.
Selection for the drug testing may be done with any portion of a team at any time. All student-athletes are eligible for drug testing during each testing cycle without prior notice and reasonable cause. Anyone traveling to any post-season tournament may undergo mandatory testing before departure.
Notification
The head coach of the sport and the testing staff (athletic training staff and/or strength & conditioning staff who will be involved in test administration) will be notified by a member of the athletic administration no earlier than one day prior to the drug testing selection. The time & location will be specified.
Procedure
A locker room or athletic building bathroom facility will be used as the primary location to hold the drug testing. Water and cups will be provided as well. The team or individual will meet as specified by the athletic administration. A member of the athletic administration will address the team upon starting the drug test, at which point the players must remain in the testing area until a viable sample is collected. This administrator will also give the last call for safe harbor prior to the test and will explain the details of the procedure.
Roles will be assigned by the testing Vendor and athletic training staff including the following: 1) controlling the attendance in the locker room, 2) monitoring the urination/taking of specimen, 3) writing the names onto the sample cup and lid prior to handing it to the student-athlete, then directing the student-athlete to the bathroom that will be used to collect the sample; 4) receiving the sample, making sure it is enough volume, and properly sealing the sample; 5) reading the sample at the specified time. The staff members who comprise these roles will make up the testing staff for that specific test date.
The student-athlete will be permitted to test once they are ready, up to 2 student-athletes at a time. Once called, they will be assigned a sample cup, and will be directed into the bathroom to urinate into the cup. A pat-down or check underneath the waistline will be performed by the Testing Agent of the student’s gender in charge of the collection station to screen the student-athlete from attempting to bring a false sample. The student-athlete will then provide the sample. Once a viable sample has been collected, the student-athlete will put the lid on the cup and bring it to the staff member assigned to receive the samples to be sealed and will witness and sign that the cup was properly identified and sealed.
At this time, the student-athlete will wait until the preliminary results are available and are communicated to them. A member of the athletic administration and the athletic training staff will read the results within the specified time frame, record the results, and discard the sample if negative and without any signs of alteration/nullification (which include but are not limited to temperature irregularities, urine concentration irregularities, or faint signs of illicit content as interpreted with the test kit).
Upon a positive test, there will be no possibility of appeal. The student-athlete may begin the suspension (24 hours of community service & counseling). Positive samples will be sent for further lab analysis at a lab diagnostics center; any samples showing signs of alteration or nullification yet were negative will also be kept for the ability to send off for further analysis as well. If a positive result has been found, the student-athlete will be asked to fill out the lab/mailing form and sign off per the testing lab request. The student-athlete will be given a copy of this lab/mailing form as well after signing and sealing. The sealed samples will be packaged, prepared, and sent off according to the guidelines set forth by the testing lab.
If a student-athlete is caught altering or attempting to alter a test sample, they will be dismissed immediately from the testing procedure and that will result in a failed test result.
Results
It is prohibited for anyone involved with the testing procedure to converse to anyone outside of the testing staff about the results of the drug test, of any safe harbor claims, of any alteration attempts, or of any other private conversations that occur during/about the drug testing. The athletic administration will communicate the preliminary findings from the drug testing process to the head coach of the sport within 24 hours following the test, at which time the head coach may not communicate about the results. Within the next 48 hours following the test (or the next available school day if a weekend or holiday/break falls within the 48 hours), the athletic administration will meet with each student-athlete who showed a positive or altered test sample to explain the preliminary results and the timeline of receiving the lab tested sample results.
Any known attempt to alter a drug test sample will result in a failed test and possibly stricter sanctions than those shown for a failed test. Any student-athlete whose sample showed previously mentioned signs of alteration or nullification may be subject to taking another drug test immediately or anytime thereafter to confirm a more definite answer. Any student-athletes who miss the drug test, unexcused or excused, may still be tested within 30 days of the team test. Any make-up or follow-up tests will follow the same procedures as mentioned previously.
Once the drug testing and communication are complete, and the lab-tested results are available, the athletic administration will meet with each student-athlete to explain the final results and sanctions. The violations and sanctions process will be documented via email among the athletic administration and the head coach. At that time, the student-athlete has the previously mentioned 5 days to produce a written appeal if they wish to appeal the results and sanctions.
All sanctions and suspension terms are listed to follow in the student-athlete handbook.
Sanctions
First Offense: Immediate suspension of 20% of the season, up to 24 hours of community service, and mandatory counseling of a minimum of 2 sessions with the campus counselor. The campus counselor can require more than 2 counseling sessions and may require the student-athlete to attend a rehab program at the student-athlete’s expense. Such recommendations and requirements will be sent to the athletic administration. These must be completed within 30 calendar days of assignment; failure to comply in this amount of time will lead to the student-athlete being suspended from all team functions until all terms have been met. If the 30-day deadline falls on a break, the deadline will be understood as the subsequent academic day after the deadline. The student-athlete will be tested again 30 days after the initial failed test.
Second Offense: Immediate suspension of 100% (or the remainder of if in-season) of the ensuing season, up to 48 hours of community service, potential loss of scholarship, completing a mandatory drug rehab program at the student-athlete’s expense, and mandatory counseling of a minimum of 2 sessions with the campus counselor. The campus counselor can require more than 2 counseling sessions. Such recommendations and requirements will be sent to the athletic administration. These must be completed within 60 calendar days of assignment; failure to comply in this amount of time will lead to the student-athlete being suspended from all team functions until all terms have been met. If the 60-day deadline falls on a break, the deadline will be understood as the subsequent academic day after the deadline. The student-athlete will be tested again 30 days after the initial failed test.
Any further offenses are subject to punishment including up to immediate dismissal from the team and loss of scholarship, requiring a 365-day period before being able to apply for reinstatement. For reinstatement, a full year without any positive drug testing must have occurred.
All testing offenses are considered forgiven upon a 365-day period where no positive drug testing has occurred. For example, after an offense, once this clean 365-day period has passed, if a student-athlete fails a drug test, sanctions will be assigned again starting with the “first offense” standards. Any suspensions will be enacted immediately unless affecting the ability of the team to participate via eligible roster size, at which point the athletic administration can approve spacing out the suspension. All sanctions will be carried over to the next season of competition if necessary.