Alcohol and Drug Screening Guidelines

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Policy Number:

UW-614

Responsible Office:

Athletics

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

The purpose of this policy is to:

• Educate student-athletes about the consequences of inappropriate drug use that can adversely affect health, academic and athletic performance.
• Act as a deterrent. A student-athlete who considers experimentation may choose not to do so when faced with testing.
• Provide a detection system for individuals utilizing banned substances. Detection and referral may reduce the number or extent of issues related to substance use.
• Prioritize physical, emotional and mental wellness in hopes of optimizing performance of the student-athlete in the classroom and in athletics by promoting a policy and testing program that deters drug use.
• Assure institutional compliance with NCAA, CSC, and conference rules, as well as local, state and federal law.
• Prevent unfair competitive advantage as a result of the use of performance enhancing drugs

 

Definitions:

Athletic Health Care Administrator

Individual responsible for coordination of education related to the screening policy and access to treatment for student-athletes that request care. This individual will assist the drug testing administrator in the review of positive screening results and identify potential prescribed use of medications with consultation with team physician on an as need basis.

Drug Testing Administrator

Individual who is a member of the senior administrative team responsible for administration and oversight of the testing and screening program, annual review of policy and procedures, and communication of results and any corrective actions. This individual determines the parameters for a positive screening result.

Mental Health Care Manager

Individual responsible for the coordination and management of referrals for assessment and treatment.

Substance Use Screening Specialist

A mental health professional with training in substance use screening and referral. The individual in this role will screen for substance use disorder and make recommendations about the need for further assessment and/or treatment.

Scope:

This policy applies to student-athletes.

Policy:

1. The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (“Athletics”) through an ongoing educational program will continue to emphasize the health risks of all illegal and potentially harmful substances including alcohol and tobacco. This is not limited to substances tested by the NCAA. The substances for which the student-athlete may be tested include the following:
   1. Mood Altering Substances
      1. Depressants
         1. Marijuana (THC)
         2. Synthetic Cannabinoids
         3. Alcohol
         4. Barbiturates (unless physician prescribed)
         5. Tranquilizers (unless physician prescribed)
      2. Stimulants
         1. Amphetamines (unless physician prescribed)
         2. Cocaine
         3. Methamphetamine
      3. Opiates
         1. Heroin
         2. Narcotic analgesics
      4. Hallucinogens
         1. LSD
         2. Psilocybin
         3. Mescaline
         4. MDMA (ecstasy)
   2. Performance Enhancing Drugs
      1. Anabolic Agents
         1. Testosterone
         2. Synthetic Anabolic Steroids
         3. Growth Hormone
         4. Clenbuterol
         5. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
         6. Insulin Growth Factor – 1
      2. Enhancers of Oxygen
         1. Erythropoietin
      3. Masking Agents
         1. Diuretics (unless physician prescribed)
         2. Probenecid (unless physician prescribed)
2. Acknowledgement and Education
   1. Student-athletes will be provided access to a copy of The Program yearly when completing their online health forms. Upon reviewing the materials, student-athletes will be asked to acknowledge that they have received the information and understand they are subject to testing as part of the program.
   2. Student-athletes will receive education each academic year that reviews the program
3. Testing Protocol
   1. The Drug Testing Administrator will ensure that collection of samples is carried out in a manner suitable for reliability and confidentiality.
   2. Selected student-athletes may have scheduled or unannounced screening prior to the competitive season, during the competitive season, or after the competitive season.
   3. The Drug Testing Administrator will select the number and types of tests.
   4. Types of Testing:
      1. Random Testing:
         1. Random individual and/or random team testing may be performed as determined by Drug Testing Administrator.
         2. Athletics will contract with an independent testing agency to ensure specimens will be collected on a random basis throughout the year.
         3. The independent testing agency will assign a random number to each student-athlete.
         4. The independent testing agency is responsible for the random selections of numbers corresponding to individuals to be tested.
      2. Reasonable Suspicion:
         1. Reasonable suspicion testing may be performed as determined by the Drug Testing Administrator.
         2. A student-athlete selected based on reasonable suspicion may be tested with or without notice and circumstance which constitute will be documented with the result.
         3. Circumstances that may constitute reasonable suspicion include, but are not limited to, the following;
            1. Current or past involvement with the criminal justice system for drug-related activities;
            2. Behaviors including violations of UW Housing rules or citations from law enforcement involving substance use.
            3. Admission of a current substance problem and unwillingness seek treatment
            4. Pattern of aberrant behavior.
      3. Team Testing:
         1. Team testing may be performed as determined by the Drug Testing Administrator.
         2. Student-athletes selected based upon team testing may be tested with or without notice.
      4. NCAA Qualifiers:
         1. NCAA qualifier testing may be performed as determined by the Drug Testing Administrator.
         2. A student-athlete selected based on NCAA qualifier status may be tested with or without notice.
4. Collection of Urine Samples
   1. Athletics utilizes an independent testing agency to administer the collection of the samples to be tested under the direction of the drug testing administrator.
   2. Under the direction of the drug testing administrator, students will receive notification on being selected for testing through their athletic trainer and/or coach.
   3. Urine specimens will be obtained under observation by members of the independent testing agency, monitored until sealed and identified by a random number corresponding to the student-athlete's name on the custody and control form to ensure confidentiality. All procedures for chain of custody will be followed as identified by the independent testing agency.
   4. Custody and control forms will be maintained in secure manner by the Drug Testing Administrator in charge of The Program to avoid breaches of confidentiality.
5. Notification of Results
   1. The drug testing administrator will have access to review the results of the urine tests from the testing agency. The Athletic Health Care Administrator will review results to determine if any of the positive results are permitted because of physician prescribed medication use and will consult with team physicians as needed.
   2. The drug testing administrator will facilitate notification of a positive drug test result to the following individuals: student-athlete, head team physician or designated team physician, the student-athlete's head coach, substance use screening specialist, and the student-athlete’s sport administrator.
   3. The drug testing administrator will notify a student-athlete of any positive results. If the student-athlete has a concern about a potential false positive result, they must notify the drug testing administrator within one week of the date of receipt of the notification
   4. Copies of results of drug testing and notification will be maintained in the student-athlete’s health record.
6. Corrective Actions
   Student-athletes with a positive test as determined by the drug testing administrator will be referred to a substance use screening specialist for review of the drug testing results and to conduct a screening for a referral for further assessment and possible intervention. Based on current and previous testing results, the appropriate corrective action will be identified within the notification from drug testing administrator provided to the student-athlete. Student-athletes with a positive test result may be subject to additional sanctions by the head coach if rules are communicated to the team prior to testing. Any action by Athletics that would affect the student-athletes athletically related financial aid is subject to the athletic grant in aid appeal process.
   1. First Offense
      1. A student-athlete with a positive test will be referred to a substance screening specialist. Based upon the results of the screening, a recommendation for further assessment, treatment and referral to support services may occur.
      2. The student-athlete may be subjected to non-random follow-up testing based on reasonable suspicion as described in the screening policy.
   2. Second Offense
      1. A student-athlete with a second positive test may result in a maximum 30 day, or 20 percent of the student-athlete’s competitive season, suspension from competition. The student-athlete will continue to have access to educational, medical and other support programs sponsored by Athletics.
      2. In some circumstances the student-athlete may be excluded from training or other activities under the auspices of Athletics. 
      3. If the second offense is the result of testing based on reasonable suspicion, the student-athlete’s head coach in consultation with the Drug Testing Administrator may dismiss the student-athlete from the team. Athletically related financial aid may be revoked by the Athletic Director or their designee.
   3. Third Offense
      1. The student-athlete with a third positive test may be indefinitely suspended from all athletic activity under the auspices of Athletics with the possibility of dismissal.
      2. Athletically related financial aid may be revoked by the athletic airector or their designee.
7. Failure to Comply with The Drug Screening Program
   1. The student-athlete may be suspended or removed from activities under the auspices of Athletics for failure to comply with the program or prescribed assessment and treatment.
   2. Athletically related financial aid may be revoked by the Athletic Director or their designee for failure to comply with The Program.
   3. A student-athlete who does not report as directed for testing collection will be immediately suspended from all voluntary or mandatory athletically related activities.  The student-athlete will be expected to submit an acceptable sample within 24 hours from the time of the student-athlete’s initial testing appointment.  If a student-athlete fails to provide an acceptable sample within 48 hours of the student-athlete’s initial collection appointment, the student-athlete will be considered to have tested positive under this policy and applicable penalties for this positive test may be imposed as specified in the policy. In the event a student-athlete is notified of a drug test and willfully and intentionally refuses to test or to make themselves available for testing, the student-athlete may be suspended from the team and subject to dismissal.
8. Appeals
   An athletics imposed action towards a student-athlete for the student-athlete’s failure to comply may be appealed by the student-athlete in writing to the athletic director. Any action that would affect athletically related financial aid is subject to athletic grant in aid appeal process.
9. Self-Referral Program
   1. Consistent with the educational mission of The Program, we encourage student-athletes to seek voluntary assistance for improper substance use or abuse. This is an individualized process designed to allow student-athletes, without fear of disciplinary action, to initiate the contact by which substance use or abuse issues may be identified, confronted and addressed through voluntary participation in assessment, medical evaluation, counseling, and education.
   2. Procedure. The Self-Referral Program shall be conducted as follows:
      1. The student-athlete may request a confidential visit with a team physician or mental health provider to discuss substance use or abuse.
      2. The team physician or mental health provider will meet with the student-athlete and determine the need for additional support services.
      3. A student-athlete's participation in the self-referral program will be confidential. The decision of the student-athlete to communicate their participation in the self-referral program with others including family, guardians and coaches is voluntary.
      4. Student-athletes participating in the self-referral program continue to be eligible for testing in the program.
10. Screening and Treatment Process for Student-Athletes
    Student-athletes will meet with the Substance Use Screening Specialist to review results of the testing and complete a screening in order to determine the need for further support services. Results of the screening will be maintained in the student-athlete’s medical record. Recommendations of the screening will be shared by the substance screening specialist with the Drug Testing Administrator, team physician, mental health provider, sport administrator and coach
    1. In addition to positive drug testing results, other circumstances that may result in a referral for a screening include:
       1. Referral as a result of a student-athlete’s specific behaviors as those identified in section III.B.4.b.iii, reasonable suspicion.
       2. Identified concerns of substance use.
    2. Treatment – A care plan will be developed under the coordination of the Drug Testing Administrator, Health Care Administrator, the Substance Use Screening Specialist, mental health staff and physician.
    3. A student-athlete who fails to comply with recommendations of the screen or management/care plan may be subject to an immediate suspension of team activities
11. Alcohol Use
    Athletics is committed to the principle that student-athletes who choose to drink alcohol, do so responsibly and legally.
    1. Student-athletes are expected to comply with state and federal law and University of Wisconsin – Madison and Athletics rules regarding alcohol, including use on campus and athletic related trips.
    2. When Athletics personnel, including coaching, medical and academic staff have reason to believe a student-athlete has used alcohol inappropriately or may currently be under the influence of substance use, the student-athlete may be removed for observation or referral from meetings, training sessions, practice, academic appointments or any activity sponsored by Athletics.  The student-athlete may be referred for support services.

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:

Director of Athletics

Policy Manager:

Athletics Training Director

Contact:

Athletics Training Director -- MICHAEL MOLL, MKM@ATHLETICS.WISC.EDU, (608) 262-6134

Date Issued:

09-01-2019

Revised Dates:

09-01-2023, 11-3-2025

Retrieved:

11-21-2025 14:24:02