What NCAA member institutions, athletics administrators and student-athletes should know about NCAA drug testing before leaving campus for a championship event:

Q How should an institution prepare its student-athletes for the possibility of NCAA championship drug testing?

* Review the NCAA drug-testing video. All institutions have received 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 2003-04 NCAA Drug-Testing Program booklet located on the NCAA Web site at www.ncaa.org/health-safety. A copy of the booklet has been sent to all institutions.

* * *

Q When is drug testing conducted at the championship?

* Drug testing can occur at any phase of an NCAA championship (for example, first round, second round, quarterfinals, semifinals or finals).

* Drug testing can occur more than once at a championship (for example, first round and finals).

* Institutions and student-athletes are not given any advance notice that drug testing is being conducted at the championship.

* * *

Q When will student-athletes be notified of their selection for drug testing?

* At team championships (for example, field hockey, football, soccer, volleyball, water polo), immediately after the game, an NCAA drug-testing crew member will provide an institutional representative with a list of student-athletes who have been selected for drug testing.

* At individual/team championships (for example, cross country), official drug-testing couriers will notify student-athletes of their selection for drug testing.

* Refer to sections 4.0 and 5.0 of the 2003-04 Drug-Testing Program booklet for more detailed information.

* * *

Q 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 usually is completed in less than 20 minutes.

* * *

Q What if a student-athlete has trouble providing an adequate specimen? Can the student-athlete leave and come back later? What if the team has to leave and the student-athlete is still in drug testing?

* The student-athlete cannot be released from drug testing until an adequate specimen is provided.

* If the student-athlete's team must depart the championship before a student-athlete completes drug testing, an institutional representative must stay with the student-athlete.

* If the student-athlete and/or institution incur additional expenses because of the delay (for example, hotel, transportation back to campus), the institution may request reimbursement from the NCAA.

* * *

Q Some events begin late at night, which means drug testing will start late as well. What is the NCAA policy on late-night drug testing?

* The late-night testing policy pertains only to team championship events (for example, field hockey, football, soccer, volleyball, water polo).

* An institution may defer drug testing until the next morning if its game begins at 9 p.m. or later local time. (See sections 5.3.2 and 5.3.2.1 in the 2003-04 NCAA Drug-Testing Program booklet)

* The decision to defer drug testing applies to the entire team and must be determined by the institution immediately after the game. All selected student-athletes can either test that night after the game or test the next morning.

* If an institution decides to defer drug testing until the next morning, the test must start before noon local time.

* An institutional representative must be present at the collection site the next morning to identify selected student-athletes.

* * *

Q What drugs does the NCAA ban?

The NCAA bans the following drug classes:

* Stimulants (for example, cocaine, amphetamines, ephedrine and Ecstasy)

* Anabolic Agents (for example, anabolic steroids, andro, boldenone and nandrolone)

* Diuretics

* Street drugs (for example, heroin and marijuana)

* Peptide hormones (for example, EPO)

* Urine manipulators and masking agents

* * *

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

* In advance of the championship, student-athletes should 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.drugfree
sport.com/rec.

* * *

Q 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.

* * *

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

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

* * *

Q 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.

* * *

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

* No. NCAA protocol requires each student-athlete's urine sample be analyzed on site before sending the sample to the lab.

* If the specimen is too diluted, the student-athlete will be required to remain in drug testing until an adequate specimen is collected. This could take several hours.

* * *

Q What else should an institution do to prepare its student-athletes for drug testing at an NCAA championship?

* Remind student-athletes they may be selected for drug testing.

* Conduct an educational session on NCAA-banned substances.

* At team championships, participating institutions must provide a list of all student-athletes on the team who are present at the event. This must be submitted to the NCAA championship liaison at the prechampionship meeting.

* At team championships, each institution should designate an individual to assist with drug testing.

* Contact The National Center for Drug Free Sport at 816/474-8655 with questions.