The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Student Athlete Resource Guide -- Sports Medicine
08.15.2019 | Texas Athletics
Illicit drugs (excluding cannabis)
1. First positive test during the student-athlete enrollment at UT:
The Head Team Physician arranges for a preliminary chemical dependency evaluation for the student-athlete by a Chemical Dependency Counselor for determination of an appropriate treatment plan and additional professional medical assistance as needed. The treatment plan is communicated to all individuals initially notified.
During the course of treatment, the student-athlete is subject to monthly drug testing during the fall and spring semesters and may, at the discretion of the Head Team Physician and/or Executive Sr. Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine, be subject to more frequent, unannounced drug testing for a period of no less than 12 months. If a subsequent positive test indicates the presence of a banned substance, the Head Team Physician assesses whether or not the detection of the substance is a continued presence of the original substance taken or is a new positive test.
The student-athlete is required to comply with the testing and treatment program as a condition of continued athletics participation. The Head Team Physician monitors and documents non-compliance issues, such as missed appointments, inappropriate conduct during treatment/counseling sessions (e.g., argumentative or confrontational behavior) and resistance to the serial collection of urine or oral fluid specimens. Any issues related to non-compliance are subsequently communicated to the Executive Sr. Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine and the Vice President/Athletics Director, who jointly determine whether the student-athlete is further suspended from all athletics activities. The Vice President/Athletics Director or his designee is responsible for communicating with the non-compliant student-athlete regarding whether he/she is further suspended from all athletics activities.
A student-athlete who tests positive for illicit drug use (excluding cannabis) shall be placed on probation for a period of 12 months from the date of the positive test. The student-athlete is subject to monthly drug testing during the fall and spring semesters for the duration of the probationary period. Additionally, upon a first positive test for illicit drugs (excluding cannabis), the student-athlete is suspended from the Texas Athletics program for 10% of his/her season's games.
Suspension for an additional period of time also may be considered in the following circumstances:
- Health and safety reasons. Depending on the nature of the substance abuse
and the frequency of use, the student-athlete may, in the judgment of the Head Team Physician in consultation with the Chemical Dependency Counselor, require immediate and indefinite suspension for health and safety reasons. The length of the medical suspension is determined by the Head Team Physician.
- Violation of team rules. Team rules may provide for sanctions that are more stringent than those previously described. Consequently, the student-athlete may be suspended at the discretion of the Head Coach for violation of team rules.
Following a student-athlete's suspension as a result of any of the preceding scenarios, consideration for reinstatement follows according to the guidelines established in Section XIV.
2. Second positive test during the student-athlete's enrollment at UT:
The student-athlete is reassigned to a treatment program approved by the Head Team Physician, subject to frequent unannounced drug tests and is suspended from the Texas Athletics program for 50% of a season's contests. A student-athlete is eligible for reinstatement only after he/she has met the conditions and procedures outlined in Section XIV.
3. Third positive test during the student-athlete's enrollment at UT:
The student-athlete is permanently dismissed from the team and the Texas Athletics program, and his/her financial aid issued by UT Athletics is permanently cancelled as permitted within NCAA rules.
- Performance enhancing drugs and anabolic agents:
- First positive test during the student-athlete's enrollment at UT:
The Head Team Physician arranges for a preliminary chemical dependency evaluation for the student-athlete by a Chemical Dependency Counselor for determination of an appropriate treatment plan and additional professional medical assistance as needed. The treatment plan is communicated to all individuals initially notified.
During the course of treatment, the student-athlete is subject to monthly drug testing during the fall and spring semesters and may, at the discretion of the Head Team Physician and/or Executive Sr. Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine, be subject to more frequent, unannounced drug testing for a period of no less than 12 months. If a subsequent positive test indicates the presence of a banned substance, the Head Team Physician assesses whether or not the detection of the substance is a continued presence of the original substance taken or is a new positive test.
Upon a first positive test for performance enhancing drugs or anabolic agents, the student-athlete is suspended from the Texas Athletics program for 10% of his/her season's contests.
The student-athlete is required to comply with the testing, treatment and educational protocol as a condition of continued athletics participation. The Head Team Physician monitors and documents non-compliance issues, such as missed appointments, inappropriate conduct during treatment/counseling sessions (e.g., argumentative, confrontational) and resistance to the serial collection of urine or oral fluid specimens. Any issues related to non-compliance subsequently are communicated directly to the Executive Sr. Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine and the Vice President/Athletics Director, who jointly determine whether the student-athlete is further suspended from all athletics activities. The Vice President/Athletics Director or his designee is responsible for communicating with the non-compliant student-athlete regarding whether he/she is further suspended from all athletics activities.
A student-athlete who tests positive for use of a performance enhancing drug or anabolic agent shall be placed on probation for a period of 12 months from the date of the positive test. The student-athlete is subject to monthly drug testing during the fall and spring semesters for the duration of the probationary period. Additionally, upon a first positive test for use of a performance enhancing drug or anabolic agent, the student-athlete is suspended from the Texas Athletics program for 10% of his/her season's games.
Suspension for an additional period of time also may be considered in the following circumstances:
- Health and safety reasons. Depending on the nature of the substance abuse
and the frequency of use, the student-athlete may, in the judgment of the Head Team Physician in consultation with the Chemical Dependency Counselor, require immediate and indefinite suspension for health and safety reasons. The length of the medical suspension is determined by the Head Team Physician.
- Violation of team rules. Team rules may provide for sanctions that are more stringent than those previously described. Consequently, the student-athlete may be suspended at the discretion of the Head Coach for violation of team rules.
Following a student-athlete's suspension as a result of any of the preceding scenarios, consideration for reinstatement follows according to the guidelines established in Section XIV.
- Second positive test during the student-athlete's enrollment at UT:
The student-athlete is permanently dismissed from the team, and the Texas Athletics program and his/her financial aid issued by Texas Athletics is permanently cancelled as permitted within NCAA rules.
- Summary of Disciplinary Actions
- Disciplinary actions resulting in suspension are calculated based on the maximum number of regular season contests in the championship segment in the student-athlete's sport. The number of contests suspended is determined by the rounding method. For example, if 10% equals 1.4 contests, the suspension is one contest; if 10% equals 1.5 contests, the suspension is two contests.
- Disciplinary actions that are not fulfilled by the end of the season in which the infraction occurs are carried over to the next season.
- The following table summarizes the institutional disciplinary actions associated with positive drug tests (not including violation of team rules):
|
Banned Substance |
First Positive |
Second Positive |
Third Positive |
Fourth Positive |
|
Cannabis* |
Probation |
Suspended 10% of contests |
Suspended 50% of contests |
Suspended one full season |
|
Illicit Drugs (excluding cannabis) |
Probation, Suspended 10% of contests |
Suspended 50% of contests |
Permanent Dismissal |
|
|
Performance Enhancing Drugs, Anabolic Agents |
Probation, Suspended 10% of contests |
Permanent Dismissal |
*A student-athlete that tests positive for cannabis and does not test positive on follow-up testing for a period of 12 months ("Probationary period") will be able to reset and will not have his/her past cannabis positives factor into consequences that are issued for any future cannabis positive test.
This reset of disciplinary action does not apply to positive tests for illicit substance or performance enhancing drug use.
XI. DIFFERENCES IN SANCTIONS FOR FIRST-TIME POSITIVES: BIG 12 CONFERENCE AND NCAA
It is imperative that student-athletes are aware of the differences between institutional drug testing sanctions and those of the Big 12 Conference and NCAA. Of particular importance are the differences that exist between the groups in sanctions for a first-time positive drug test.
Testing administered by Big 12 Conference – First positive result
A student-athlete who tests positive for the use of a banned substance other than an illicit street drug as defined by the NCAA Banned-Drug Classes List shall be declared ineligible to represent a Big 12 institution in intercollegiate competition during the time period ending one calendar year after the student-athlete's positive drug test and shall be charged with the loss of a minimum of one season of competition in all sports if the season of competition has not yet begun for that student-athlete, or a minimum of the equivalent of one season of competition in all sports if the student-athlete tests positive during his/her season of competition. With regard to a positive finding for the use of a "illicit street drug" as defined by the NCAA Banned-Drug Classes List, an institution is notified and shall impose a sanction consistent with institutional policy.
Testing Administered by NCAA – First positive result
A student-athlete who tests positive for cannabis shall be declared ineligible and charged with the loss of 50% of one season of competition in all sports.
A student-athlete who tests positive for the use of a banned substance (excluding cannabis) as defined by the NCAA Banned-Drug Classes List shall be declared ineligible for further participation in non-championship and championship competition. The student-athlete is charged with the loss of a minimum of one season of competition in all sports if the season of competition has not yet begun for the student-athlete or a minimum of the equivalent of one full season of competition in all sports if the student-athlete tests positive during his/her season.
Note: A positive drug test resulting from NCAA and/or Big 12 administered testing is treated as a positive within the context of UT institutional policy and may result in institutional sanctions in addition to the aforementioned sanctions imposed by the NCAA and Big 12 Conference.
