NCAA Out-of-Competition (Year-Round) Drug-Testing Program for Division II
Frequently Asked Questions

The Division II Management Council and the Division II President's Council voted to expand the out-of-competition (year-round) drug-testing program to all Division II institutions.

The following provides Division II member institutions, athletic administrators and student-athletes information about the NCAA Out-of-Competition (Year-Round) Drug-Testing Program.

How should an institution prepare its student-athletes for NCAA drug testing?

• Review the NCAA drug-testing video. All institutions were sent a copy of the NCAA drug-testing video. The video explains the process of NCAA drug testing and should be shown to all student-athletes. Contact NCAA education outreach if you do not have a current (2003) copy of the video.  
• Review the NCAA Drug Testing Program (2003-04) booklet located on the NCAA's Web site at www.ncaa.org/health-safety. A copy of the 2004-05 booklet will be sent to all institutions in August 2004.  
• Conduct an educational session on NCAA banned substances, including dietary supplements.

Who will be drug tested beginning 2004-05 academic year?

• Every Division II sport your institution sponsors is now subject to out-of-competition (year-round) drug testing.  
• Every Division II institution sponsoring football will be drug tested at least once each academic year. In addition to football, one additional sport will be randomly selected for drug testing beginning this fall. Please know, however, that your institution may be selected for testing more than once each academic year.
  If your institution sponsors football, 12 football student-athletes plus four student-athletes from one additional sport will be randomly selected for drug testing.  
• For institutions not sponsoring DII football, Drug Free Sport randomly will select institutions to be tested. Institutions not sponsoring football will be selected at least once every two years.
  If your institution does not sponsor football, four student-athletes from one sport will be tested.

When can a student-athlete be selected for drug testing?

Student-athletes are subject to drug testing before, during or after their competitive season.

How and when are institutions notified of their selection for drug testing?

The National Center for Drug Free Sport (Drug Free Sport) will notify institutions via email of their selection for drug testing no earlier than two days before the test day. In some cases, institutions may be notified one day before the test day.

How are student-athletes notified of their selection for drug testing?

• Each institution will designate an athletic administrator to serve as their drug-testing site coordinator.  
• The drug-testing site coordinator will provide Drug Free Sport with a squad list containing the names of each student-athlete participating in the sport.  
• Drug Free Sport randomly will select student-athletes for drug testing and provide the names of the selected student-athletes to the institution's drug-testing site coordinator.  
• The drug-testing site coordinator will notify the selected student-athletes. Selected student-athletes are required to sign the Out-of-Competition Student-Athlete Notification Form, acknowledging their selection for drug testing and will be present at the time and location designated by the drug-testing site coordinator.

How are student-athletes tested and how long does it take?

• Student-athletes are drug tested through urinalysis.  
• Student-athletes will be observed by a drug-testing crew member of the same gender.  
• The length of the collection process depends on the student-athlete's ability to provide an adequate specimen. If a student-athlete provides an adequate specimen immediately upon arriving at the drug-testing station, the entire process is usually completed in less than 20 minutes.

What if a student-athlete has trouble providing an adequate specimen? Can the student-athlete leave and come back later?

The student-athlete cannot be released from drug testing until an adequate specimen is provided, except to attend class.

What drugs does the NCAA ban?

The NCAA bans the following drug classes:

• Stimulants (e.g., cocaine, amphetamines, ephedrine and Ecstasy)  
• Anabolic Agents (e.g., anabolic steroids, andro, boldenone, nandrolone and THG)  
• Diuretics  
• Street drugs (e.g., heroin and marijuana)  
• Urine manipulators and masking agents

Although the NCAA tests for all banned drug classes at its Division II championships, NCAA Division II out-of-competition (year-round) drug testing is for anabolic agents, diuretics, peptide hormones, urine manipulators, masking agents and ephedrine only.

How can a student-athlete find out whether a medication or supplement is banned?

• Student-athletes must consult with their athletic trainer or team physician about any medication or dietary supplements they use.  
• The Resource Exchange Center (REC) is available to answer questions regarding NCAA banned substances at www.drugfreesport.com/rec. Division II institutions use password ncaa2.

What about dietary supplements?

Many nutritional/dietary supplements contain NCAA banned substances. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not strictly regulate the supplement industry; therefore purity and safety of nutritional/dietary supplements cannot be guaranteed. Impure supplements may lead to a positive NCAA drug test. The use of supplements is at the student-athlete's own risk.

Are over-the-counter dietary supplements approved by the NCAA?

The NCAA does not approve any dietary supplement. Furthermore, the use of any dietary supplement can lead to a positive NCAA drug test.

Does a student-athlete have to disclose the use of prescription medications to the drug-testing crew?

• No. The drug-testing crews do not ask or accept any information about medications student-athletes are taking.  
• The team physician/athletic trainer should be aware of all prescribed medications (and supplements) a student-athlete is taking. This information should be kept on file at the institution.  
• If a student-athlete tests positive because of a prescription medication, the institution may request a medical exception for certain banned drug classes as outlined in the NCAA Drug-Testing Exceptions Procedures at www.ncaa.org/health-safety.

Can student-athletes beat a drug test by consuming large amounts of fluids?

• No. NCAA drug-testing protocol requires the specific gravity of each student-athlete's urine sample be measured onsite prior to sending the sample to the lab. (Protocol 6.2.5.1)  
• If the specimen is too dilute, the student-athlete will be required to remain in drug testing until an adequate specimen is collected. This could take several hours.

For more information about NCAA Drug-Testing Programs, contact The National Center for Drug Free Sport at 816-474-8655 x116.

The contact for this page is mwilfert@ncaa.org