NCAA Drug-Testing Program

NCAA Drug-Testing

Program

2023-24

• Nutritional/dietary supplements, including vitamins and

minerals, are not well regulated and may cause a positive

drug test result.

• Student-athletes have tested positive and lost their

eligibility using nutritional/dietary supplements.

• Many nutritional/dietary supplements are contaminated

with banned drugs not listed on the label.

• Any product containing a nutritional/dietary supplement

ingredient is taken at the student-athlete’s own risk.

Go to ncaa.org/drugtesting

for examples* under each class.

*Any substance that is chemically/

pharmacologically related to any of the classes

above, even if it is not listed as an example, also

is banned!

QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICINES AND SUPPLEMENTS?

816-474-7321 or axis.drugfreesport.com (password ncaa1, ncaa2 or ncaa3)

• Stimulants

• Anabolic Agents

• Alcohol and Beta

Blockers

(banned for rifle only)

• Diuretics/

Masking Agents

• Narcotics

• Cannabinoids

• Peptide Hormones,

Growth Factors,

Related Substances and

Mimetics

• Hormone and

Metabolic Modulators

• Beta-2 Agonists

NCAA NUTRITIONAL/DIETARY

SUPPLEMENTS WARNING:

BANNED SUBSTANCES

CLASSES:

This resource is designed for athletics department staff at NCAA member schools with student-athlete drug-testing responsibilities.

The Drug-Testing Program is reviewed annually by the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports.

NCAA is a trademark of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

All other licenses or trademarks are property of their respective holders.

Contents

Chapter I — NCAA Banned Substances ....................................................................................................... 2

Chapter II — Medical Exceptions Procedures ............................................................................................ 3

Chapter III — Drug Education Guidelines .................................................................................................... 4

Chapter IV — NCAA Drug-Testing Procedures .......................................................................................... 6

1. Banned Substances ............................................................................................................................... 7

2. Drug-Testing Administration ............................................................................................................. 7

3. Causes for Loss of Eligibility ............................................................................................................. 7

4. Drug-Testing Selections ...................................................................................................................... 8

5. Drug-Testing Notifications ................................................................................................................. 9

6. Specimen Collection Procedures......................................................................................................11

7. Chain of Custody .................................................................................................................................. 13

8. Laboratory Procedures, Notification of Results and Appeal Process ......................................13

9. Restoration of Eligibility ....................................................................................................................15

Chapter V — Institutional Drug Testing...................................................................................................... 17

Article 10.2 — Knowledge of Use of Banned Substances ....................................................................... 17

2023-24 NCAA Banned Substances

Many nutritional/dietary

supplements are contaminated

with banned drugs not listed

on the label.

CHAPTER I

Highlighted text throughout the document indicates

further clarification or new information.

The NCAA bans the following

classes of substances:

a. Stimulants

b. Anabolic agents

c. Beta blockers (banned for rifle only)

d. Diuretics and other masking agents

e. Narcotics

f. Cannabinoids

g. Peptide hormones, growth factors, related

substances and mimetics

h. Hormone and metabolic modulators

i. Beta-2 agonists

NOTE: This is not a complete or exhaustive list.

Any substance that is chemically/pharmacologically

related to these classes also is banned. The school and

the student-athlete shall be held accountable for all

drugs within the banned-substance class regardless

of whether they have been specifically identified.

Examples of substances under each class can be found

ncaa.org/drugtesting. There is no complete list of

banned substances.

Substances and Methods Subject

to Restrictions:

• Blood and gene doping.

• Local anesthetics (permitted under some conditions).

• Manipulation of urine samples.

• Tampering of urine samples.

• Beta-2 agonists (permitted only by inhalation

with prescription).

NCAA Nutritional/Dietary

Supplements

Before consuming any nutritional/dietary

supplement product, review the product and its

label with your athletics department staff.

• Nutritional/dietary supplements, including vitamins

and minerals, are not well regulated and may cause a

positive drug test.

• Student-athletes have tested positive and lost their

eligibility using nutritional/dietary supplements.

• Many nutritional/dietary supplements are

contaminated with banned drugs not listed on the label.

• All nutritional/dietary supplements are taken at the

student-athlete’s own risk.

Athletics department staff should consider providing

guidance to student-athletes about nutritional/

dietary supplement use and the importance of having

supplement products checked by qualified staff

members before consuming. The NCAA subscribes

only to Drug Free Sport AXIS™ for authoritative

review of label ingredients in medications and

nutritional/dietary supplements.

Contact Drug Free Sport AXIS at 816-474-7321 or

axis.drugfreesport.com (password ncaa1, ncaa2

or ncaa3).

NCAA DRUGTESTING PROGRAM  202324

NCAA DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM | 2023-24

Medical Exceptions Procedures

CHAPTER II

There is no medical exception available

for substances in the cannabinoids class.

The NCAA recognizes that some banned substances

are used for legitimate medical purposes. Accordingly,

the NCAA allows exceptions to be made for those

student-athletes with a documented medical history that

demonstrates the banned substance is needed as part of

an approved medical treatment or therapy plan.

Exceptions may be granted for

the following classes of banned

substances:

• Stimulants

• Anabolic agents

• Beta blockers

• Diuretics

• Narcotics

• Peptide hormones, growth factors, related

substances and mimetics

• Hormone and metabolic modulators

• Beta-2 agonists

NOTE: No medical exception review is available for

substances in the cannabinoids class.

Procedures for Requesting

a Medical Exception

Student-athletes are encouraged to explore and

discuss the availability and appropriateness of

alternative non-banned medications and therapies

with their medical providers before an exception is

requested by the school.

Requests for exceptions will be reviewed by the

medical panel of the NCAA Committee on Competitive

Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS). If

additional documentation is requested by the committee,

the school must provide the additional document within

90 calendar days of the request.

The NCAA will inform the director of athletics regarding

the outcome of the exception request. In the event

the exception connected to a positive test result is not

granted, the school may appeal this action according to

section 8.0 of the drug-testing protocol.

Requesting a Medical Exception

Pre-Approval for Anabolic Agents,

Hormone and Metabolic Modulators,

or Peptide Hormones, Growth

Factors, Related Substances

and Mimetics

The school should submit the NCAA Medical Exception

Documentation Reporting Form (located at ncaa.

org/drugtesting) to the NCAA along with medical

documentation from the prescribing physician supporting

the diagnosis and treatment. (Contact [email protected].)

The documentation should contain information as to

the diagnosis (including appropriate verification of the

diagnosis) and medical history.

Requesting a Medical Exception

After a Positive Drug Test

The school may request an exception at the time of

notification of the positive drug test (“A” sample) by

submitting documentation to the NCAA-designated drug-

testing agency.

If the school fails to provide medical documentation

(including a prescription that would have been active as

of the test date) to the NCAA-designated drug-testing

agency before the “B” sample is reported as positive to

the school, the school will be required to withhold the

student-athlete from competition until such time as the

documentation is received and reviewed, and a decision

is rendered.

NCAA DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM | 2023-24

Drug Education Guidelines

The NCAA is committed to supporting membership

efforts to prevent drug and alcohol abuse. NCAA

Bylaws 12 (Division I) and 14 (Divisions II and III)

require the director of athletics or their designee to

disseminate an annual list of banned drug classes

to all student-athletes, including student-athletes

who transfer mid-year, and to educate them about

products that might contain banned substances.

Schools should consider providing the same kind

of education to athletics administrators, coaches,

compliance officers and sports medicine personnel.

Campus colleagues working in alcohol- and other

drug-prevention programs may provide additional

support for athletics department efforts.

The NCAA provides

resources that outline

recommended approaches and evidence-based

resources that may help athletics administrators

address alcohol, cannabis, prescription drug misuse

and more.

The following considerations provide a sample

drug-education framework that can help member

schools conduct adequate drug education for their

student-athletes.

Athlete Drug Education

Throughout the Year:

• Develop and update written policies that address

alcohol, cannabis, tobacco and other recreational

substances inclusive of, among other topics:



Drug testing.



Usage disclosures.



Discipline.



Counseling or treatment options.



The fact that nutritional/dietary supplements

are not well regulated, that use may result in a

positive test and they are taken at the student-

athlete’s risk.



The importance of consulting with athletics

department staff prior to taking any nutritional/

dietary supplement.

• Review NCAA, conference and institutional drug-

testing program policies and incorporate necessary

updates into department materials.

• Include the NCAA list of banned-substance classes

and NCAA written policies as part of the student-

athlete handbook or related materials.

• Identify NCAA, conference and institutional rules

regarding the use of alcohol, cannabis, tobacco and

narcotics, performance-enhancing substances and

nutritional/dietary supplements, and consequences

for violating rules as part of student-athlete

educational materials.

• Display posters and other NCAA, conference and

institutional educational materials in high-traffic areas.

• Repeat the verbal messaging delivered at the start

of the academic year at the start of each academic

term and periodically during team meetings

throughout the year to reinforce messaging and

underscore accessibility of information for all

student-athletes.

• Provide student-athletes with access to

supplemental drug-education materials and

opportunities including those resources provided at

ncaa.org/drugtesting.

Start of Academic Year:

• Ensure that student-athletes sign drug-testing

consent and other NCAA-required annual

compliance forms.

• Provide student-athletes with a copy of the written

drug-testing policies as outlined above.

• Verbally explain all relevant drug-testing policies with

student-athletes and staff:



NCAA banned-substance classes and a reminder

that all related compounds under each class are

banned, regardless if they are listed as an example.



NCAA drug-testing policies and consequences

for testing positive, including failure to show,

manipulation or tampering with a urine sample.



Warnings related to the risks of using

nutritional/dietary supplements.



NCAA tobacco use ban during practice

and competition.



Conference and institutional drug-testing

program policies, as applicable.



Alcohol, cannabis, tobacco and other recreational

substance use policies and institutional sanctions

for violations, as applicable.

CHAPTER III

NCAA legislation requires schools to

educate student-athletes about banned

substances and the products that may

contain them.

NCAA DRUGTESTING PROGRAM  202324

NCAA Drug-Testing Procedures

NCAA schools have, since 1986, affirmed their

dedication to the ideal of fair and equitable

intercollegiate competition at their championships

and postseason football games through their support

of the NCAA drug-testing program. To facilitate the

protection of competing student-athletes — specifically,

so that no one participant might have an artificially

induced advantage or feel pressured to use substances

or methods to gain an unfair competitive advantage

— the NCAA drug-testing program was created. This

program provides for year-round, championships and

postseason football games drug testing.

All NCAA member schools are subject to NCAA drug

testing. The NCAA drug-testing program involves urine

collection and laboratory analyses for substances on

a list of banned-substance classes. This list consists

of substance classes generally purported to be

performance enhancing and/or potentially harmful to the

health and safety of the student-athlete. Notably:

• Student-athletes are held responsible for their use of

all banned substances at all times.

• While the NCAA may test for any banned substance

at any time, it will generally test for anabolic agents,

hormone and metabolic modulators, diuretics and

masking agents, peptide hormones, growth factors and

related substances and mimetics during the year-round

testing program. In championships and postseason

football games, the NCAA also will include testing for

beta-2 agonists, beta blockers (in rifle), stimulants,

cannabinoids and narcotics.

• Other testing occasions, such as reinstatement tests,

follow-up tests and breach of protocol, may include

testing for all banned-substance classes.

CHAPTER IV

Student-athletes are responsible

for everything they ingest.

NCAA DRUGTESTING PROGRAM  202324

NCAA DRUGTESTING PROGRAM PROTOCOL 202324

1.0. Banned Substances

1.1. The NCAA bans substances by class. Related

compounds are included in the class due to their

pharmacological action and/or chemical structure. No

substance in a banned-substance class may be used

regardless of whether it is specifically listed as an

example, unless specifically exempted.

1.1.1. The definition of positive for the following

substances is: for caffeine, if the concentration in

urine exceeds 15 micrograms/ml; for cannabinoids,

if the concentration in the urine of THC metabolites

is equal to or greater than the threshold established

by the World Anti-Doping Agency at the time of

the test; for testosterone, if the administration

of testosterone or use of any other substance

or manipulation has the result of increasing

testosterone, or the ratio of testosterone to

epitestosterone, or results in an adverse finding in

confirmation testing.

1.1.2. Evidence of the presence of a banned

substance and/or metabolite in a student-athlete’s

urine will be determined by a WADA-accredited

laboratory for the analysis of human doping

control samples.

1.2. The current NCAA list of banned-substance classes

is available in Chapter 1 of this resource and at

ncaa.

org/drugtesting

. In addition, other substances may

be screened to gather data for making decisions as to

whether additional substances should be added to the

list of banned-substance classes.

2.0. Drug-Testing Administration

2.1. The NCAA Board of Governors has final authority

over the procedures and implementation of the NCAA

drug-testing program.

2.2. CSMAS will recommend policies and procedures

to the Board of Governors and will conduct drug-

testing appeals.

2.2.1. Members of CSMAS and/or other experts and

stakeholders delegated by it may be called upon for

consultation and input during an appeal.

2.3. The NCAA president or their designee will approve

any contracts between the NCAA and an independent

drug-testing agency. The current NCAA-designated

drug-testing agency is Drug Free Sport International

(Drug Free Sport)™. The NCAA-designated drug-testing

agency will support, coordinate and be responsible for

the general administration of the drug-testing program,

including the designation, training and certification of

doping control officers (DCO), determination of drug-

testing sites and contracting with NCAA-approved drug-

testing laboratories.

2.3.1. DCOs may not participate in testing at a

school at which they are employed.

2.3.2. Any drug-testing laboratory(ies) will be

required to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of

CSMAS, proficiency in detection and confirmation of

NCAA banned substances.

2.4. The host school for an NCAA championship or the

school(s) involved in a year-round testing event will

designate an individual to serve as site coordinator.

2.4.1. A site coordinator at an NCAA championship

may not concurrently serve in any other capacity

during drug testing (e.g., director of medical coverage).

2.5. Specimen collection by organizations other than

those authorized by the NCAA is not allowed at NCAA

drug-testing events and postseason football games.

2.5.1. Any individual or school that requests drug

testing outside of NCAA prescribed testing, (e.g.,

in order to certify world and national records) will

be responsible for covering the costs and expenses

related to such testing.

3.0. Causes for Loss of Eligibility

3.1. As required in NCAA bylaws, each academic year,

each member school shall administer the consent form

to its student-athletes (including partial qualifiers and

non-qualifiers) and each student-athlete shall sign a

drug-testing consent form in which the student-athlete

consents to be tested for substances banned by the

NCAA. Failure to complete and sign the consent form as

required shall result in the student-athlete’s ineligibility

for participation in practice and competition in all

intercollegiate athletics. The drug-testing consent form

remains in effect until a subsequent form is executed.

3.2. Student-athletes who test positive for a banned

substance, or who breach NCAA testing protocol

requirements, are subject to loss of eligibility. These

student-athletes may be subject to additional testing for all

NCAA banned substances by the NCAA at any time. Drug-

testing penalties are legislated under NCAA Bylaws 18.4.1.4

(Divisions I and II) and 18.4.1.5 (Division III) Ineligibility for Use

of Banned Drugs.

3.3. Breach of Protocol. A student-athlete will be

considered to be in breach of protocol and treated as if

they tested positive for a banned substance other than

cannabinoids and narcotics if the student-athlete:

• Fails to arrive at the collection station without

legitimate justification as determined by the NCAA-

designated drug-testing agency;

• Fails to provide a urine specimen according to

collection procedures;

• Leaves the collection station without authorization

from the DCO before providing a specimen according

to protocol; or

• Attempts to alter the integrity of the collection process.

A breach of protocol will be documented by the DCO.

3.4. Tampering. Where it is identified by the NCAA or its

designated drug-testing agency that a student-athlete

was involved in tampering (e.g., urine substitution or

related methods) with an NCAA drug-test sample, and

the incident is supported by student-athlete admission,

clear observation or other highly irrefutable evidence, the

student-athlete shall be charged with the loss of eligibility

as legislated under NCAA Bylaws 18.4.1.4.4.1 (Divisions I

and II) and 18.4.1.5.4.1 (Division III) Tampering With a

Drug-Test Sample.

4.0. Drug-Testing Selections

4.1. The NCAA drug-testing plan will be reviewed by

CSMAS at least annually. The selection of championship

events at which drug testing will occur shall be determined

by the Board of Governors or the president/NCAA chief

medical officer acting on behalf of the Board of Governors.

4.2. Upon a published or official report involving conviction

for possession or distribution of banned substances by a

student-athlete, coach or athletics staff, or those closely

associated with the athletics program, or in the event

multiple student-athletes from a single program have

tested positive at an NCAA testing event, the NCAA

may elect to test any student-athlete from that

school for all banned substances.

NCAA DRUGTESTING PROGRAM  202324

NCAA DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM | 2023-24

4.3. Student-athletes who have tested positive or

provided multiple dilute samples at a testing event

may be tested at any time, including, but not limited

to, a championship or postseason football game at

which they appear and at which drug testing is being

conducted, and at any year-round testing event.

4.3.1. It is the responsibility of the school to notify

the DCO that a student-athlete who is

present on site must be tested to satisfy Section 4.3.

4.4. Student-athletes who are ineligible as a result of

an NCAA positive drug test or a breach of protocol may

be tested for all banned substances by the NCAA at any

time during their period of ineligibility.

4.5. Selection of Student-Athletes for Year Round Testing.

4.5.1. Student-athletes competing in Divisions I and II

sports are subject to year-round testing.

4.5.2. In year-round testing events, the timing of

testing and selection of tested individuals may be

random or specific to sport, position, competitive

ranking, athletics financial-aid status, playing time,

directed testing or any other NCAA-approved

selection method.

4.5.2.1. For selections of student-athletes during

on-campus year-round testing, the school is

responsible for providing the official eligibility

checklist or squad list, or complete roster if the

first outside competition has not yet occurred.

4.5.2.2. For year-round summer drug testing,

student-athletes will be selected from the

official eligibility checklist or squad list, or other

approved list.

4.5.3. Student-athletes who appear on one of the

lists in 4.5.2.1 will not be selected for drug testing if

the NCAA-designated drug-testing agency is notified

prior to the testing date that they:

• Have been cut or dismissed from their team;

• Have exhausted eligibility in the sport;

• Have graduated;

• Have a medical waiver resulting from career-

ending injury or illness;

• Have quit the team; or

• Have withdrawn from the school.

All other student-athletes with remaining NCAA

eligibility (including partial qualifiers, nonqualifiers,

those with season-ending injuries and student-

athletes who have expressed interest in transferring

schools) are subject to testing.

4.5.4. A student-athlete who is no longer on the

team (voluntarily or involuntarily) before notification

of their selection for NCAA drug testing, and was on

the school’s eligibility checklist or squad list without

being identified as no longer on the team, may not

participate in NCAA competition until completion of

an NCAA drug test. This test will be administered by

the NCAA-designated drug-testing agency in each

case at the school’s expense.

4.6. Selection of Student-Athletes at NCAA

Championships and Postseason Football Games.

4.6.1. All student-athletes are subject to NCAA

testing at NCAA championships or in conjunction

with postseason football games.

4.6.2. Student-athletes may be tested before, during

or after NCAA championship events and postseason

football games.

4.6.3. At NCAA team championships and

postseason football games, the timing of testing

and selection of tested individuals may be random

or specific to position, competitive ranking, athletics

financial-aid status, playing time or any other NCAA-

approved selection method.

4.6.3.1. For team championship and postseason

football game testing, student-athletes may be

selected from the official travel party roster,

official gate/credential list, championship

participation sheets or other approved forms.

4.6.4. At NCAA individual championship events,

timing of testing and selection of tested individuals

may be random or specific to competitive ranking,

random selection, position of finish or other NCAA-

approved selection method.

4.6.5. Student-athletes in their final year of

eligibility, who are listed in one of the criteria

identified in 4.6.3 and 4.6.4, are subject to NCAA

drug testing.

5.0. Drug-Testing Notifications

5.1. Notification of Schools for Year-Round Testing.

5.1.1. For on-campus year-round testing, the

NCAA-designated drug-testing agency will send

notifications to the director of athletics, compliance

administrator and drug-testing site coordinator not

earlier than two calendar days before the day of

testing. For off-campus summer testing, schools

will not receive advance notification. For no-advance

notice testing, refer to the NCAA Year-Round Drug-

Testing Site Coordinator Manual.

NCAA DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM | 2023-24

5.2. For year-round testing events and upon request,

the director of athletics or their designee will be

required to provide an accurate and current eligibility

checklist or squad list to the NCAA-designated drug-

testing agency.

5.3. Notification of Student-Athletes for

Year-Round Testing.

5.3.1. The school is responsible for notifying all

student-athletes about testing selection and details

for on-campus year-round testing events. The

designated DCO will be responsible for notifications

for off-campus summer testing.

5.3.1.1. For on-campus year-round testing,

student-athletes will be notified in person or by

direct telephone communication of the date,

time to report and location of the testing event.

Student-athletes must read and sign the NCAA

Student-Athlete Notification Form.

5.3.1.2. Student-athletes shall be required

to verify their identity by providing picture

identification when entering the collection station.

5.3.2. For on-campus year-round testing, an

institutional representative will be present in

the collection station and remain until the

completion of testing for purposes of verifying the

identity of tested student-athletes and acting in the

capacity as an institutional observer with respect to

testing procedures.

5.4. Notification of Host Schools/Local Organizing

Committee (LOC) and NCAA Administrators for NCAA

Team Championship Testing.

5.4.1. The championship event manager,

championship event drug-testing site coordinator

and the NCAA championship administrator will be

notified before the first day of testing.

5.5. Notification of Competing Schools for NCAA Team

Championship Testing.

5.5.1. An institutional representative will be notified

no earlier than two hours before the start of

scheduled competition that drug testing will

take place.

5.5.2. At NCAA team championship events, a

separate collection site will be provided for each

team. Immediately after any NCAA-established

postgame cool-down period, student-athletes

selected for drug testing will be notified by a DCO

or their designee. Each student-athlete will be

instructed to read and sign the Team Championship

Student-Athlete Notification Form. The student-

athlete will be instructed to report to the collection

station within one hour of notification, unless

otherwise directed by the DCO or their designee.

5.5.3. A school representative must report to the

collection station for purposes of assisting with the

verification of the identities of selected student-

athletes, and remain in the collection station until all

selected student-athletes have completed testing.

NCAA DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM | 2023-24

5.5.4. At any NCAA team championship event other

than a final round, when competition begins at 10

p.m. or later local time, a school may defer testing

for all selected student-athletes until the next

morning; provided such decision must be made and

communicated to the DCO immediately after the

game. Deferred testing must begin for all selected

student-athletes no later than noon local time.

5.5.4.1. The host school/LOC will identify

collection sites that can be used for deferred

tests as part of the coordination of broader

championship hosting activities.

5.6. Notification of Student-Athletes for NCAA Team

Championship Testing.

5.6.1. The DCO or their designee will present to

the institutional representative the list of selected

student-athletes who will be tested.

5.6.2. The institutional representative and the DCO

or their designee will coordinate the location where

notification of the student-athletes will occur (e.g., in

locker room, on field of play, etc.).

5.7. Notification of Host Schools/LOC and NCAA

Administrators for NCAA Individual Championships Testing.

5.7.1. The championships event manager,

championships event drug-testing site coordinator

and the NCAA championships administrator will be

notified before the first day of testing.

5.8. Notification of Competing Schools for NCAA

Individual Championships Testing.

5.8.1. Schools will not be notified in

advance whether testing will occur or not occur

at individual championships.

5.9. Notification of Student-Athletes for NCAA

Individual Championships Testing.

5.9.1. At NCAA individual championships events,

student-athletes will be notified of their selection

for drug testing and will sign a Student-Athlete

Championships Notification Form. The student-

athlete will be instructed to accompany a courier

to the collection station within one hour of

notification, unless otherwise directed by the DCO

or their designee.

5.9.2. The DCO or their designee will direct the

selected student-athlete to test immediately, to

defer testing until the completion of their final event

of that session or day or to defer testing until the

completion of their final event of the championship.

5.9.3. The courier and selected student-athlete will

obtain an institutional representative’s signature

on the notification form if testing is deferred until

completion of the student-athlete’s final event

of that session or day, or completion of their final

event of the championship. An institutional

representative must present the student-athlete

to the collection station and certify identification

of the student-athlete no later than one hour after

completion of their final event of the session or day,

or final event of their championship.

6.0. Specimen Collection Procedures

6.1. Only those persons authorized by the DCO will be

allowed in the collection station.

6.2. Any student-athlete with an academic obligation that

conflicts with a scheduled testing time may defer testing

by notifying the DCO and requesting to reschedule. A

student-athlete may also request to reschedule testing

time, and the DCO may in their discretion agree to

reschedule testing, for any reason previously approved

by the NCAA-designated drug-testing agency, sickness,

injury or a desire to avoid interruption of a previously

scheduled competition event.

In all cases, the DCO will identify, document and

communicate to the student-athlete and school the

arrangements for the rescheduled test.

6.3. Upon entering the collection station, the

identification of the student-athlete will be verified by

the DCO or their designee and/or school representative

as applicable.

6.3.1. The DCO or their designee will instruct

the student-athlete to select a sealed specimen

collection container and attach a unique barcode to

the collection container.

6.3.2. The DCO or their designee will direct the

student-athlete to rinse and dry their hands and to

provide the specimen using the collection container.

6.3.3. The DCO or their designee will fully observe

the provision of the student-athlete specimen.

6.3.4. The student-athlete will be responsible for

keeping the collection container closed and controlled.

6.3.5. The school may elect to make food and/or

hydration beverages available to testing student-

NCAA DRUGTESTING PROGRAM  202324

athletes in the collection station; provided they are

caffeine-free, alcohol-free and free of all banned

substances and delivered in individual sealed

containers. All such food/beverages must only be

opened and consumed while the student-athlete is in

the collection station.

6.4. In the event a tested student-athlete provides an

incomplete specimen, they must remain in the collection

station and retain the closed collection container until

a complete specimen can be provided unless otherwise

directed by the DCO.

6.4.1. If a student-athlete must leave the collection

station for a reason approved by the DCO, the

partial specimen may be discarded at the discretion

of the DCO.

6.4.1.1. Upon return to the collection

station, the student-athlete will continue the

collection procedure.

6.4.1.2. At individual championship events, if

the student-athlete has produced a partial urine

sample and must leave the collection station for

a reason approved by the DCO, the DCO may

temporarily defer the student-athlete’s collection

until they return. The student-athlete’s partial

sample will be securely packaged with tamper-

evident seals and remain with the DCO in the

collection station. Upon return, the student-athlete

will verify the integrity of the sample prior to

resuming their collection.

6.5. Once a specimen is provided, the DCO, or their

designee, who observed the provision of the specimen,

will sign that the specimen was validated, and a DCO, or

their designee, will check the specific gravity of the urine

in the presence of the student-athlete.

6.5.1. If the specific specific gravity of the urine

specimen is adequate, as determined by the

DCO, the specimen will be processed and sent to

the NCAA-designated drug-testing laboratory.

6.5.1.1. If the DCO determines the specific gravity

of the urine specimen to be inadequate, it will not

be sent to the lab unless otherwise directed by

the NCAA-designated drug-testing agency. The

student-athlete must remain in the collection

station until an adequate specimen is provided,

unless otherwise directed by the DCO.

6.5.1.2. Final determination of specimen

adequacy is determined by the NCAA-designated

drug-testing laboratory.

6.5.1.2.1. If the NCAA-designated drug-testing

laboratory determines that a student-athlete’s

specimen is inadequate for analysis, the

student-athlete may be required to provide

another specimen.

6.6. Once a specimen has been provided that meets

the on-site specific gravity criteria, the DCO or their

designee will instruct the student-athlete to select a

specimen collection kit and a uniquely numbered set

of barcodes.

6.7. The DCO or their designee will record the specific

gravity and the DCO or their designee will split the

specimen into the “A” vial and the “B” vial in the presence

of the student-athlete. The DCO or their designee will

place the cap on each vial and then seal each vial with

the barcode selected by the student-athlete under the

observation of the student-athlete.

6.8. The DCO will secure all sealed vials for shipping.

6.9. Sealed vials selected by the student-athlete shall

only be identified via unique barcode numbers and will

not contain student-athlete name, school or any other

personally identifiable information.

6.10. The student-athlete, DCO or their designee,

and any participating permitted witness will sign

the custody and control form, certifying that the

procedures were followed as described in the Drug

Testing Program document.

NCAA DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM | 2023-24

6.10.1. In the event that the tested student-athlete

or a permitted witness alleges any deviation from

the procedures, the DCO will document the alleged

deviations and will instruct the student-athlete to

provide another specimen.

6.11. After the collection has been completed, the DCO

will forward the specimen(s) to the NCAA-designated

drug-testing laboratory.

6.12. All specimens are considered to be the exclusive

property of the NCAA.

7.0. Chain of Custody

7.1. The DCO will deliver the completed test

specimen(s) to the carrier or directly to the NCAA-

designated drug-testing laboratory.

7.2. A laboratory employee will record that the

specimen(s) has been received.

7.3. The laboratory will record whether the numbered

barcode seal on each vial arrived intact.

7.3.1. If a vial arrives at the laboratory with security

seals not intact, the student-athlete may be required

to provide another specimen.

7.4. The laboratory will document the various

procedural steps of specimen analysis that occur

at the laboratory.

7.5. In the event of any deviation from standard chain

of custody or laboratory procedure, the tested student-

athlete may be required to provide another specimen.

8.0. Laboratory Procedures,

Notification of Results and

Appeal Process

8.1. Laboratory Procedures. Each vial containing

urine will be referenced as sample A and sample B.

The laboratory will use a portion of sample A for its

initial analysis.

8.1.1. Any analysis result showing a banned

substance and/or metabolite(s) in sample A will be

reviewed and verified by the laboratory director or

certifying scientist.

8.1.2. The laboratory will communicate all analysis

results to the NCAA-designated drug-testing agency

using specimen barcode numbers.

8.2. Notifications. Upon receipt analysis of results,

the NCAA-designated drug-testing agency will use the

barcode information to identify any individuals with

positive findings.

8.2.1. For NCAA individual championships, the

NCAA-designated drug-testing agency will

communicate all positive test results to the director

of athletics and/or their designee at the applicable

member school within 45 days of specimen

collection barring any unforeseen delays.

8.2.2. The NCAA-designated drug-testing agency

will also notify the school that sample B will be

tested and will describe the options for student-

athlete representation during applicable sample B

testing procedures.

8.2.3. The school shall, without delay, notify the

student-athlete of the findings and secure the

student-athlete’s preference for representation

during applicable sample B procedures. Permitted

representatives include the student-athlete, an

individual attending on the student-athlete’s

behalf and/or a lab surrogate.

8.2.4. The school shall notify the NCAA-designated

drug-testing agency of the student-athlete’s

sample B procedural representation preference in

accordance with the following timelines:

• Year-round testing outside of championships/

postseason football games: within two business

days of institutional receipt of positive

test results.

• Reinstatement testing: within two business days

of institutional receipt of positive test results.

• Championship/Postseason football games

testing where team/student-athlete is not

advancing: within two business days of

institutional receipt of positive test results.

• Championship/Postseason football games

testing where team/student-athlete is

advancing: within 24 hours of institutional

receipt of positive test results.

8.2.5. The NCAA-designated drug-testing agency

will provide the school with sample B testing details

and the school will provide them to the student-

athlete and any identified representatives.

NCAA DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM | 2023-24

8.2.6. In the event the school does not inform the

NCAA-designated drug-testing agency about the

student-athlete’s representation preference within

the required time frame, the sample B procedures

will be conducted in the presence of a lab surrogate.

8.2.7. The student-athlete, student-athlete’s

representative, the school’s representative or the lab

surrogate will attest by signature as to the identity

of the barcode on sample B, that the security seal

has not been broken, and that there is no evidence of

tampering of the sample.

8.2.8. The NCAA-designated drug-testing agency

representative will direct the laboratory on how to

proceed with the analysis of sample B.

8.2.9. Sample B findings will be considered final such

that no additional specimen analysis will be permitted.

The laboratory will inform the NCAA-designated drug-

testing agency of all sample B findings.

8.2.9.1. In the event of a positive sample B

finding, the NCAA-designated drug-testing

agency will contact the director of athletics and/

or their designee at the applicable school and

the school shall subsequently notify the student-

athlete of the finding, declare the student-athlete

ineligible, withhold the student-athlete from

all intercollegiate competition and ensure the

appropriate implementation of all other related

NCAA eligibility procedures.

8.2.10. In the event that a student-athlete tests

positive for a substance for which a medical

exception may be granted (see Medical Exceptions)

and the school has properly submitted an exception

request and all required documentation to the

NCAA-designated drug-testing agency before it is

notified of the sample B findings, the eligibility of

the student-athlete may be maintained while the

exception request is under review.

8.3. Appeals. The school shall notify the student-

athlete of the right to appeal a positive sample B

finding. Within two business days of the school’s

receipt of the positive sample B findings, its director

of athletics and/or their designee must, upon request

by the student-athlete, notify the NCAA-designated

drug-testing agency of the student-athlete’s intent

to appeal. The appeal request will be reviewed and an

outcome will be determined by CSMAS. The student-

athlete will remain ineligible pending the outcome of

the appeal. Unless an extension is previously approved

by the Drug-Testing Subcommittee Chair, the school

must submit all appeal documentation to the NCAA-

designated drug-testing agency within 45 calendar

days of its delivery of the notice of intent to appeal.

Appeals will be scheduled as soon as practicable, taking

into consideration impending dates of competition

and other relevant NCAA, school and student-athlete

scheduling factors provided all required documentation

as outlined in the Drug-Testing Appeals Process has

been properly submitted. Copies of the lab results will

be provided to the director of athletics and/or their

designee as part of the appeal process and prior to the

date of appeal. Any student-athlete who has tested

positive for the same banned substance on subsequent

occasions may request an administrative review in

lieu of an appeal where they believe the subsequent

positive test can be attributed to declining values. The

decision to conduct an administrative review in lieu of

an appeal shall be at the discretion of the Drug-Testing

Subcommittee chair.

8.3.1. All appeals will start with a written review

by at least three members from CSMAS Drug-

Test Appeal Subcommittee. The members will

review the school’s submitted documentation (see

checklist) and consider legislation, committee

guidelines, policies and procedures, case precedent,

asserted mitigation and other relevant information

to render a final decision or to elevate the review

NCAA DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM | 2023-24

to an oral hearing. Should the Drug-Test Appeal

Subcommittee members elevate the review to an

oral hearing it will be conducted by teleconference

and arranged by the NCAA-designated drug-testing

agency. Additional information about the NCAA

drug-testing appeal procedures can be found at

ncaa.org/drugtesting. CSMAS may consult or

include third party subject matter experts during

the appeal teleconference or other portions of

the appeal process for purposes of evaluating the

appeal request and related facts and information

provided as part of the appeal documentation.

Once a decision is rendered, NCAA staff will notify

the school’s director of athletics or their designee of

the final outcome of the student-athlete’s appeal and

the school shall subsequently inform the student-

athlete of the final outcome.

8.3.1.1. If an appeal is denied, the student- athlete

remains ineligible.

8.3.1.2. If an appeal is granted, the student-

athlete will be required to participate in a new

NCAA-administered drug test, conducted at the

school’s expense, and must produce a negative

test result prior to being permitted to return to

eligibility for competition.

8.3.2. Appeal decisions are considered final. In

the event that new material information relevant

to the student-athlete’s responsibility for testing

positive becomes evident, the school may request

that the Drug-Test Appeal Subcommittee reopen the

appeal, in which case the chair of the appeal panel

will determine, in their discretion, whether the new

information is relevant material and could not have

been reasonably ascertained prior to the time of

the appeal call so as to warrant a justifiable need to

reopen the appeal. As part of the review of a request

to reopen, or in the event the appeal is reopened,

the chair or any member of the appeal panel may

request additional information from the student-

athlete, the school or any third party consultant.

8.3.3.The NCAA may release the student-athlete’s

test results to the involved school’s conference office

upon the approval of the school.

9.0. Restoration of Eligibility

9.1. Student-athletes must participate in an NCAA-

administered drug test, at the school’s expense, and

produce a negative test result for all banned drug

classes other than cannabinoids in order to restore

eligibility following a prior positive drug test. Should

the exit test result in a positive for use of a substance

in the banned drug class cannabinoids, the student-

athlete is required to comply with all applicable

provisions of NCAA Bylaw 18.

9.2. This exit test, which includes testing for all NCAA

banned substances, shall be initiated by the school

by submitting a request to the NCAA-designated

drug-testing agency not sooner than 6 weeks prior

to the end of the applicable student-athlete eligibility

suspension period. Exit tests will be scheduled by the

NCAA-designated drug-testing agency within 2-4

weeks of its receipt of a request.

NCAA DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM | 2023-24

A school receiving inquiries concerning a positive test that results in a student-

athlete’s ineligibility may elect to consider the following response:

“The student-athlete in question was found to be in violation

of NCAA eligibility rules and has been declared ineligible.”

NCAA DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM | 2023-24

The following are suggested guidelines for

consideration by NCAA member schools contemplating

an in-house drug-testing program:

1. Consider consulting with legal, risk management and

other applicable campus departments at an early stage.

2. Consider developing, distributing and publicizing

written policies that will govern testing procedures

and that address relevant topics such as: (a)

the purposes of the drug-testing program; (b)

who will be tested and by what methods; (c) the

substances to be tested for, how often and under

what conditions (i.e., announced, unannounced or

both); and (d) the actions to be taken in response

to a positive test. Consider sharing a copy of the

policy with all student-athletes entering the school’s

intercollegiate athletics program and confirming

that they have an adequate opportunity to read and

ask questions about the policy.

3. Because the scope of the NCAA Drug-Testing

Consent Form is limited to NCAA-conducted drug

testing activities, consider and consult with legal,

risk management and other applicable campus

departments about the extent to which other

student-athlete consents may be required and how

best to implement and incorporate those activities

into other institutional practices.

4. Consider proactively exploring the various logistical,

technical and economic questions that can arise

in connection with campus drug-testing including,

among others:

a. When and how samples will be collected, secured

and transported.

b. Which laboratory(ies) will be used and which

certifications/accreditations will be required.

c. How samples will be stored and for how long

before analysis.

d. Which analytical methods will be used in the

laboratory.

e. Cost.

f. How will test results be reviewed and validated.

g. How medical exceptions and appeals will be

handled.

h. Who will receive the results and how the results

will be used.

5. Consider involving and soliciting input from

stakeholders in various relevant academic

departments and disciplines across campus (e.g.,

pharmacy, pharmacology, chemistry, medicine).

ARTICLE 10.2 KNOWLEDGE OF

USE OF BANNED SUBSTANCES

A member school’s athletics department staff

members or others employed by the intercollegiate

athletics program who have knowledge of a student-

athlete’s use at any time of a substance within the

banned-substances classes, as set forth in Bylaw

18 (Division I) and Bylaw 31 (Divisions II and III), shall

follow institutional procedures dealing with substance

misuse or shall be subject to disciplinary or corrective

action as set forth in Bylaw 19.

Institutional Drug Testing

CHAPTER V

NCAA DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM | 2023-24

REPORT ALL

MEDICINES

DON’T PLAY WITH YOUR ELIGIBILITY

NOTE: Some medications contain NCAA banned substances. Report all over-

the-counter and prescription medicines — including ADHD medications — to

your primary athletics health care provider (e.g., team physician, athletic

trainer). Visit ncaa.org/drugtesting for more information.

NCAA DRUGTESTING PROGRAM | 2023-24

Summer 2023.