The Department of Athletics of Norwich University expects the actions of its student-athletes, both on and off the playing field, to reflect the Guiding Values and traditions of excellence fostered by the University. You are expected to exemplify the standards of self-discipline, personal integrity, honor and social responsibility, the principles upon which the University was founded, which will bring honor to yourself, your team and your University.
The Department of Athletics at Norwich University is concerned with the health, safety, and welfare of our student-athletes who participate in our programs and represent the University in competitive athletics, as well as the integrity of our programs and competitions. Substance abuse is one of the most important issues facing athletics and society today. Substance use and abuse in sports can pose risks to the student-athlete's health, negatively affect his or her academic and athletic performance, and also can compromise the integrity of athletic competition and the ideals of Norwich University. Therefore, the Department of Athletics condemns the use of illegal drugs, the misuse of legal drugs and dietary supplements, and the use of performance-enhancing substances.
Drug testing of student-athletes has been authorized in accordance with procedures
and regulations promulgated by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics ("Intercollegiate
Athletics" or "Athletic Department"). Amendments to these procedures
may be issued with or without notice, as the University and the Department of
Intercollegiate Athletics deem appropriate. Nothing in these procedures shall
be construed to create a contract between student-athletes and NU. However,
signed consent and notification forms shall be considered affirmation of the
student-athlete's agreement to the terms and conditions contained therein as
well as in this policy, and shall be legal contractual obligations of the student-athletes.
Drug testing is appropriate to ensure the health, safety and welfare of student-athletes,
to promote fair competition in intercollegiate athletics; to affirm compliance
with applicable rules and regulations on drug use; to identify student-athletes
who are improperly using drugs; to assist them before they harm themselves or
others; and to protect the integrity of the University and its athletic program.
These procedures and sanctions are in addition to and supplemental to any and all policies, procedures, consent forms, rules, codes, requirements, and sanctions allowed and/or required by Norwich University, including the Norwich University Student Rules and Regulations, the NCAA, conferences, law, and any other legal authority or entity (collectively "requirements.") Student-athletes and other students continue to remain subject to other requirements.
The procedures and sanctions set forth herein address and apply only in regard to this policy. Acts, conduct, violations, and/or failure to comply with other requirements subject the student-athlete to additional procedures and sanctions in accordance with those other requirements.
Participation in athletics at Norwich University is a privilege, not a right. As a condition of being permitted to participate in the University's athletic programs, student-athletes must comply with this policy and all other applicable requirements and procedures, including complying with and consenting to the drug education and drug testing procedures, signing forms indicating their understanding and voluntary consent to these requirements, releasing of results and other information to those who have a specific need to know, and waiving liability as deemed appropriate by the University. See Consent Form.
Failure to consent to and/or to comply with the requirements of this policy and its procedures shall result in ineligibility for or suspension from participation, or termination of eligibility to participate in athletics at Norwich University. Those student-athletes not providing such signed consent form by the end of their respective teams' orientation meeting, at the beginning of each sports season, will be deemed to have exercised their option to not participate in an athletic program and thereby will become ineligible to participate in athletics. Student athletes, including walk-on athletes and mid-year transfers, will not be allowed to participate in athletics without first providing a signed drug testing consent form.
Each student-athlete annually will be given a copy of the institutional policy and will be required to participate in an informative session describing the drug testing procedures. Additionally, student-athletes will be given an opportunity to ask any questions regarding the information contained in the policy, the testing program, or other related issues prior to signing the consent form.
Norwich University Department of Athletics personnel will not distribute or encourage the use of any dietary supplements or ergogenic aids. A dietary supplement is a product, intended to supplement the diet, that contains one or more of the following dietary ingredients: vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs or other botanicals, and metabolites. Many dietary supplements or ergogenic aids contain banned substances. Often the labeling of dietary supplements is not accurate and is misleading. Terms such as "healthy" or "all natural" do not mean dietary supplements do not contain a banned substance or are safe to take. Using dietary supplements may cause positive drug tests. Student-athletes who are currently taking dietary supplements or intend to take any dietary supplements are required to review the product with the Head Athletic Trainer. Positive testing of any prohibited/banned substances subject student-athletes to the sanctions set forth in this policy.
The drug screening process may include analysis of, but is not limited to, the NCAA list of banned-drug classes (See List of NCAA Banned Drug Classes). This banned drug list also is included in the student-athlete handbook. For an ongoing updated listing of the banned-drug list view the NCAA's web site at www.ncaa.org. Prohibited substances that may be screened for include but are not limited to (in any sport): marijuana, PCP, opiates, MDMA (Ecstasy), amphetamines, cocaine, flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) and anabolic steroids. Norwich University requires that all student-athletes keep the athletic training staff and/or team/university physician aware of any prescribed drugs and dietary supplements that he or she may be taking.
Student-athletes may be selected for random testing throughout the academic year or until the conclusion of post-season competition, whichever is later. Student-athletes on the institutional team squad list will be eligible for testing using a random number system. A student-athlete may be randomly selected for testing as a member of a team (e.g. one of 10 football athletes selected) or as a Norwich University student-athlete (e.g. one of 10 student-athletes selected). Student-athletes listed on the squad list who have exhausted their eligibility or who have had a career ending injury will not be selected for random testing under this policy. Short notice or no notice may be given for a random drug test.
A student-athlete may be subject to testing at any time when the Vice President of Student Affairs/Commandant determines there is individualized reasonable suspicion to believe the participant is using or has used a prohibited drug. Such reasonable suspicion shall be based on objective information as determined by the Director of Athletics or by an Associate/Assistant Director of Athletics, Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Head Athletic Trainer or Assistant Athletic Trainer, or Team Physician, and deemed reliable by the Director of Athletics or his/her designee. Director of Athletics presents reasonable suspicion analysis to the Vice President of Student Affairs/Commandant for approval. Upon certification by the Vice President of Student Affairs/Commandant that reasonable suspicion exists, the Director of Athletics will order reasonable suspicion screening. Reasonable suspicion may be found, but not limited to: 1) observed possession or use of substances appearing to be prohibited drugs, 2) arrest or conviction for a criminal offense related to the possession or transfer of prohibited drugs or substances, or 3) observed abnormal appearance, conduct or behavior reasonably interpretable as being caused by the use of prohibited drugs or substances. Among the indicators which may be used in evaluating a student-athlete's abnormal appearance, conduct or performance are: decrease in class attendance, significant GPA changes, decrease in athletic practice attendance, increased injury rate or illness, physical appearance changes, academic/athletic motivational level, emotional condition, mood changes, and legal involvement. See Reasonable Suspicion Form. The Director of Athletics will make a recommendation to the Vice President of Student Affairs/Commandant within 48 hours of receiving the objective information from the individual(s) mentioned above. The Vice President of Student Affairs/Commandant will render a decision within 48 hours certifying or decertifying the reasonable suspicion. If certified, then the Director of Athletics or Head Coach will notify the student-athlete and the student-athlete must stay with a member of their coaching staff, the athletics administration staff, or the sports medicine staff, until an adequate specimen is produced. Note: The possession and/or use of illegal substances may be determined by means other than urinalysis. When an individual is found to be in possession and/or using such substances, he/she will be subject to the same procedures that would be followed in the case of a positive drug test result.
Entire teams may be selected for random testing throughout the academic year. Student-athletes on the institutional team squad list will be eligible for team testing. Teams will be selected for testing using a random number system. A team may be randomly selected for testing if it is classified as a varsity or club sport at Norwich University. Student-athletes listed on the institutional team squad list that have exhausted their eligibility or who have had a career ending injury will not be selected for random testing under this policy. All other student-athletes are subject to testing. A student-athlete may be given short notice or no notice for a random drug test.
All student-athletes are subject to pre-season drug testing and may be notified of such by the Director of Athletics or his/her designee at any time prior to their first competition.
Any student-athlete or team likely to advance to post-season championship competition may be subject to additional testing. Testing may be required of all team members or individual student-athletes at any time within thirty (30) days prior to the post-season competition.
A student-athlete who has had his or her eligibility to participate in athletics suspended as a result of a drug violation, may be required to undergo re-entry drug testing prior to regaining eligibility. The Director of Athletics or his/her designee shall arrange for re-entry testing at the student-athletes expense.
A student-athlete who has earned the privilege to return to participation in athletics following a positive drug test under this policy may be subject to follow-up testing. Testing will be unannounced and will be required at a frequency determined by the Athletic Director or his/her designee. Follow up testing that results in a positive test will be paid for by the student-athlete. A negative test result will be paid for by the University.
The Director of Athletics or the Head Coach will notify the student-athlete of the date and time to report to the collection station and will have the student-athlete read and sign the Student-Athlete Notification Form. See Notification Form.
The Director of Athletics or the Head Coach will be in the collection station to certify the identity of the student-athletes selected. Student-athletes shall provide picture identification (NU photo ID) when entering the drug-testing station. The Director of Athletics or Head Coach must remain in the collection station until all student-athletes complete the collection process.
Urine samples will be collected using all required laboratory directed procedures. (See Drug Testing Collection Procedures.) Chain of custody sample holding and shipping procedures will be scrupulously followed.
Urine samples will be collected and sent to an independent, SAMHSA approved laboratory for analysis. Each sample will be tested to determine if banned substances are present. A test result confirmed as positive by the laboratory does not automatically identify the student-athlete as having engaged in prohibited drug use. Results will be made available to the Director of Athletics. The Director of Athletics will consult the Head Athletic Trainer, the Team/University Physician, and the Deputy Commandant/Dean of Students. All four will review the results. If there is a positive drug test, the Director of Athletics will set up a meeting with the student-athlete. The student-athlete may present evidence of any mitigating circumstances that he/she feels may be important to the outcome of the drug test. The Director of Athletics, the Head Athletic Trainer, the Team/University Physician, and the Deputy Commandant/Dean of Students will then make the determination of the outcome of the drug test.
If the laboratory reports a specimen as substituted, manipulated, or adulterated, the student-athlete will be deemed to have refused to submit to testing and treated as if the test were positive for a banned substance.
Any student-athlete who tests positive for a banned substance or who refuses to submit a urine sample or fails to take a required drug test as described in this policy shall be subject to the following sanctions:
The Director of Athletics will schedule a confidential meeting with the student-athlete, the Head Trainer or his or her designee, the Senior Woman Administrator (SWA), the Head Coach and the Team/University Physician and the Deputy Commandant/Dean of Students to review the positive drug test results. The Director of Athletics or his/her designee will notify the student-athlete's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) by telephone and in writing of the positive drug test result. The student-athlete will be immediately suspended from competition in any intercollegiate or club sports at Norwich University. Students will be cautioned that they are subject to Vermont state laws pertaining to possession, sale and consumption of controlled substances and related paraphernalia. Violators of this policy are subject to suspension or dismissal from the University. The Deputy Commandant/Dean of Students will then initiate the appropriate disciplinary process as defined by the Norwich University Rules and Regulations.
Student-athletes who test positive for a banned substance may, within 48 hours following receipt of notice of the laboratory finding, contest the finding of the positive results in writing to the Director of Athletics. Upon the student-athlete's request for further testing of the sample, the Director of Athletics will formally request the laboratory retained by the University to perform testing on specimen B. Specimen B findings will be final, subject to the results of any appeal. If specimen B results are negative, the drug test will be considered negative and will be at the expense of the University. A positive test result of specimen B will be at the expense of the student-athlete.
Student-athletes who test positive, or who dispute that they have refused or failed to take a required test, under the terms of the Norwich University Athletics Drug Testing Policy and who receive a sanction of suspension or dismissal via the University Rules and Regulations, can appeal the sanction to the Commandant and Vice President of Student Affairs of Norwich University. The Vice President has the authority to delegate the appeal process to the President of Norwich University. The Vice President for Student Affairs, the Dean of Students, and the Deputy Commandant have the authority to uphold, rescind or amend any decision to include increasing or decreasing a punishment. A student may not appeal a sanction more than once.
The student-athlete may have an advocate or other representative present if the student so desires. However, the student-athlete must present his or her own case. The meeting should take place no more than forty-eight (48) hours after the written request is received. Either the student-athlete or the other parties involved may request an extension of time to the Commandant and Vice President of Student Affairs or his/her designee, who will consider whether to grant the extension upon a showing of good cause. These proceedings shall include an opportunity for the student-athlete to present evidence, as well as to review the results of the drug test. The proceedings shall be open to only those persons deemed necessary by the Commandant and Vice President of Student Affairs or his/her designee.
Decisions regarding suspension and dismissal, like all other actions taken at the university, are administrative rather than judicial in nature. As the Commandant and Vice President for Student Affairs makes these decisions for the President and the Board of Trustees, his/her decisions are considered final.
Athletics: Drug Testing Procedures 7-03
September 15, 2003