Effective August 1, 2005, a student-athlete under a drug-testing suspension from a national or international sport's governing body that has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code shall not participate in intercollegiate competition, including NCAA championships and postseason bowl games, for the duration of the national or international suspension.

Where did this new legislation come from? How will it work? What student-athletes will be affected?

The National Center for Drug Free Sport, the official administrator for the NCAA testing programs, in conjunction with the health and safety staff at the national office, compiled the following information to help NCAA member institutions, athletics administrators, coaches and student-athletes understand this new legislation.

• Who proposed the legislation?

The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS). The mission of this Association-wide committee is to promote a healthy and safe environment for student-athletes through research, education, collaboration and policy development.

• When was this legislation passed?

Divisions II and III approved the proposal at the 2005 NCAA Convention. The Division I Board of Directors approved it in April 2005.

• Was the legislation necessary?

Yes. Current NCAA drug-testing policy gives the impression that "dirty athletes" may seek a safe haven within the NCAA. At the present time, an athlete who is under a national or international doping suspension is permitted to participate in NCAA competition as long as the student-athlete self-reports the doping violation and tests negative on a subsequent NCAA-administered drug test. All three membership divisions agreed that a student-athlete who has committed a doping offense should not be given an "out" via NCAA competition.

• What or who is WADA? What is the WADA code?

WADA is the World Anti-Doping Agency. The WADA code is the universal document upon which the World Anti-Doping Program in sport is based. The purposes of the World Anti-Doping Program and the code are to protect an athlete's right to participate in doping-free sport and thus promote health, fair ness and equality for all athletes world-wide, as well as to ensure harmonized, coordinated and effective anti-doping programs at the national and international level with regard to detection, deterrence and prevention of doping. Under the WADA code, all sports governing bodies participating in Olympic competition have agreed to harmonize testing policies and procedures, including the imposition of sanctions, with the united purpose of deterring drug use in sport. The NCAA actively supports this mission.

• How will an NCAA member institution learn of a doping suspension for one of its student-athletes?

As in prior years, student-athletes will be required to disclose, on the NCAA Student-Athlete Statement, results of a positive drug test by a national or international athletics organization. The Student-Athlete Statement for 2005-06 will require student-athletes to disclose whether they are under a suspension for the doping offense.

• The WADA list of prohibited substances and the NCAA-banned drug classes list are different. Does the new legislation apply to both?

No. The new legislation applies only to suspensions for use of substances banned by the NCAA.

• What if a national or international suspension was the result of a positive drug test for a substance for which the student-athlete had a prescription?

The new legislation provides an exception for those banned substances for which the NCAA allows a medical exception. The student-athlete may request the medical panel of the CSMAS to review the doping violation and request a waiver to participate in NCAA intercollegiate athletics because the student-athlete has a documented medical history demonstrating the need for regular use of the banned substance. Be sure to read the NCAA Drug-Testing Exceptions Procedures.

• Will this new legislation apply to NCAA student-athletes who have not yet completed their suspension as of August 1, 2005, but met the requirements of the previous legislation (for example, disclosed and tested negative)?

Yes. As of August 1, 2005, any NCAA student-athlete who is or continues to be under a national or international doping suspension will not be allowed to participate in NCAA athletics until the suspension is lifted.

• How will this new legislation affect a current student-athlete's eligibility?

For Division I student-athletes, the five-year rule (Bylaw 14.2.1) will continue to run during the suspension. Student-athletes competing at Divisions II and III member institutions could choose not to enroll at the school, or enroll part time, during the period of the suspension and retain terms of eligibility under Bylaw 14.2.2.

Andrea Wickerham is the legal relations and policy director for The National Center for Drug Free Sport, the group that conducts the NCAA's drug-testing program.