Pubdate: Wed, 02 Mar 2005
Source: Daily Tar Heel, The (U of NC Edu)
Copyright: 2005 DTH Publishing Corp
Contact: 
http://www.dailytarheel.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2001/09/28/3bb4e48629448
Website: http://www.dailytarheel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1949
Author: Georgia Cherry
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

DRUG POLICY COULD CHANGE

A re-evaluation of the student-athlete drug policy was brought to the table 
of the Faculty Athletics Committee on Tuesday afternoon, marking the first 
in-depth look at the code in six years.

Although the revision was not fully addressed, Director of Athletics Dick 
Baddour briefed the committee on the initiative.

Baddour said that in examining the policy, the athletic department is 
looking to tap into the multiple options for support that the University 
already provides.

"We've met with some people in the hospital and in the pharmacy school - 
also, in the Department of Psychiatry," he said. "We're trying to 
understand what other options exist."

Baddour then asked the committee to come to next month's meeting with 
suggestions and insights about the direction of the evaluation.

"As I've said before, I really do like the structure we have now, but I 
just want us to take a look at all of this," he said.

The existing "two strikes, you're out" policy states that one failed drug 
test will result in counseling and the possible suspension of athletic 
eligibility. A second failed test means a student's athletic eligibility is 
terminated.

Drug testing can be conducted either as a preseason requirement or in 
response to reasonable suspicion. Entire teams or randomly selected 
individuals also can be subjected to unannounced tests.

The frequency of testing varies from team to team.

The policy has received extra attention during the past year after the 
arrest of four football players in marijuana-related incidents.

While administrators said they are concerned by the arrests, that's not why 
the committee met Tuesday.

According to Baddour, the change is more of a "clean-house" initiative to 
make sure the department's policies are working and effective.

The committee is not planning to rewrite or rework the entire policy, he said.

"I want to do this right, and we can start looking into that at our next 
meetings," Baddour said.

The committee will further evaluate the policy at its next two meetings 
April 5 and May 3.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth