Reinstatement Involving Testing Positive for an NCAA Banned Substance
NCAA Bylaw 18.4.1.5.1

Information pertinent to a student-athlete who transfers following a positive drug-test

If the student-athlete transfers to another NCAA institution while ineligible under Bylaw 18.4.1.5.1, the institution from which the student-athlete transferred must no­tify the new institu­tion that the student-athlete is ineligible.  Please note that due to the Family Educational Right to Privacy Act (Buckley Amendment), the institution may be limited to dis­closing only that the student-athlete is ineligible and not that the student-athlete is ineligible due to a positive drug test unless consent is received from the student-athlete to disclose the positive drug test.

If the student-athlete immediately transfers to a non-NCAA institution while ineligible and competes in collegiate competition within the 365-day period at a non-NCAA institution, the student-athlete will be ineligible for all NCAA regular-season and postseason competition until the student-athlete does not compete in collegiate competition for a 365-day period. Additionally, the student-athlete must retest negative (in accordance with the testing methods authorized by the Executive Committee) and request that eligibility be reinstated by the Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee.  [Note:  For the 2003-04 academic year, the student-athlete statement will require disclosure of a positive drug test.]

Process for reinstating a student-athlete following a positive drug-test

The first step in the process is for an NCAA institution to schedule the exit test with the National Center for Drug Free Sport, Inc (The Center) (telephone number is 816/474-8655).  The mandatory exit test may occur no sooner than the 11th month of the minimum one-year period of ineligibility.  

If an NCAA institution believes the circumstances warrant requesting re­instatement of eligibility, it must submit a written request under By­law 14.12 (Restoration of Eligibility).  The following information must be included:

*     The dates of the initial positive test, the mandatory exit test and if the initial positive was appealed, 
       the appeal date.

*     Whether the student-athlete is a multi-sport participant; if so, please specify.

*      The number and dates of contests, if any, in which the student-athlete partici­pated during
        that season in which the student-athlete tested positive.

*      If the student-athlete tested positive during the season, please include a copy of the
        season?s competition schedule.

*      A detailed enrollment and participation history, including the institution?s determination of 
       the number of seasons of intercollegiate competition the student-athlete has used and the
       num­ber of seasons the student-athlete has remaining.

Please note that the application of NCAA drug-testing legislation causes the involved student-athlete to lose at least the equivalent of one season of competition and if the student-athlete competes prior in that same season prior to testing positive he or she will have utilized a season of competition according to the minimum amount of competition legislation.  For example, if a student-athlete competes during the same season he or she tests positive, that student-athlete will:

*         have utilized a season of competition according to NCAA minimum
          amount of competition legislation and

*         be charged with the loss of one season of competition as result of a positive test and

*         be withheld from the equivalent of one season of competition.

Also, under the provisions of Bylaw 18.4.1.5.1, those student-athletes who test positive and do not use a season of competition pursuant to NCAA legislation will be charged with the loss of one season of competition in all sports.  Further, please note that if the institution submits a request for reinstate­ment at the end of the 365-day period, the Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committees may impose additional conditions for rein­statement of eli­gibility or may conclude that reinstatement is in­appropriate.

If there are questions regarding the NCAA drug testing program or appeals of positive tests please contact:

Phone: 816/474-8655 
www.drugfreesport.com. 
Drug-testing information also is available at:
www1.ncaa.org/membership/ed_outreach/health-safety/drug_testing/index.html

If there are questions regarding NCAA student-athlete reinstatement please contact:

Phone: 317/917-6222
FAX: 317/917-6736
Mail: NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Staff
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6222