Introduction
The Converse University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Substance Abuse Program has been developed to assist our student-athletes in bringing about a drug-free lifestyle. The Athletic Department is committed to the development and implementation of a substance abuse policy designed to assist student-athletes to meet the demands of both academic and athletic pursuits. We intend to help provide a safe, healthy, and drug-free atmosphere in which student-athletes can experience and grow as students and, most importantly, as human beings.
It is with this philosophy in mind that the Converse University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has developed a Substance Abuse Policy with the following goals:
- To provide current, factual information to all student-athletes regarding drug use/abuse.
- To identify as quickly as possible those student-athletes who are abusing substances or who are at high risk of abusing substances and provide them with the professional assistance they require.
- To develop and maintain an ethical, responsible drug testing program designed to act as both a deterrent to drug/alcohol abuse and as a method of identifying student-athletes who may already be involved with substance abuse.
- To ensure the well-being and safety of student-athletes.
- To provide a safe environment for intercollegiate athletic competition
By accomplishing these goals, the Athletic Department is fulfilling a responsibility it has toward the student-athletes who have been recruited to pursue their academic and athletic careers at Converse University.
General Information
The NCAA has strict rules about the use of drugs by student-athletes. Before practicing and competing in intercollegiate athletics each year, the student-athlete must sign a form agreeing to be tested for use of drugs prohibited by NCAA legislation. The student-athlete’s signature indicates that they have read and understood the substance abuse policy and agree to comply with the policy and the consequences of any positive tests. Failure to complete that form will result in the student-athletes ineligibility until the form is signed. If a test reveals that the student-athlete has used any of the prohibited drugs, they may immediately be declared ineligible. The student-athlete may lose an entire season of eligibility or become permanently ineligible. Depending upon the particular sport and other circumstances, the team and the university may also be penalized.
Before consuming any nutritional/dietary supplement product, review the product with the athletics department staff. Nutritional/ dietary supplements are not well regulated and may cause a positive drug test result. Any product containing a nutritional/dietary supplement ingredient is taken at the student-athletes own risk. All coaches and athletic training staff have a list of prohibited drugs, see Appendix A. Student-athletes are responsible for knowledge of these substances and should avoid any use of them.
If at any time a student-athlete is taking prescription drugs, including over-the-counter medications for an illness or condition, the student-athlete MUST inform the Sports Medicine Department to prevent any possible complications. Although these drugs may be well-intentioned, they could result in a positive test result from the NCAA banned substances list. Proper documentation will be required from the prescribing medical doctor concerning the student-athlete’s prescription.
Substance Abuse Education
The Converse University Athletic Department strives to prevent student-athletes from substance abuse. At the beginning of each academic year, all student-athletes will attend a mandatory educational session on supplement use, prescription drugs, drug testing procedures, prohibited substances, and consequences of use.
Students can check supplements and other items for banned substances using www.axis.drugfreesport.com. Students will choose NCAA Division II as their organization. The password is “ncaa2”. Students can submit an injury for dietary supplements and drugs. Additional information can be found at https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2015/6/10/ncaa-banned-substances.aspx.