The public comment period for an athletic department rule-making action updating drug testing rules ended last week, paving the way for a number of changes to how the University ensures its athletes participate in fair and healthy competition.
The latest rule-making action, which amends six sections of Oregon Administrative Rules, will update the 20-year-old methods by which student-athletes are tested through urinalysis for both illegal and performance-enhancing drugs. In addition, the new stipulations call for more effective intervention and sanctions for athletes who repeatedly produce positive test results. Under the pending rule change, the athletic department will more closely follow NCAA protocols in order to respect student-athletes’ “reasonable expectation of privacy” and minimize the chances of accidental error and cheating.
“We will use the current industry process,” Bill Clever, executive assistant athletic director for compliance, said.
Though student-athletes may now be dismissed from their team and lose grant and financial aid support after a single positive test result, compared to three infractions under the old rules, Clever said the updated procedure will not be as harsh as the document’s administrative jargon implies.
“Coaches desired the flexibility … that a single (positive) drug test on the heels of other behavioral issues would allow them to … dismiss them from the team,” Clever said. “The first positive doesn’t (necessarily) prevent the student from practicing or competing.”
The assistant AD described the current athletic drug testing situation as a “cat and mouse game,” where clandestine drug producers are constantly developing new substances as testing methods scramble to catch up.
“As additional performance enhancing substances are invented, we didn’t want to have to go back every time and revamp the language,” Clever said.
ASUO President Amelie Rousseau said athletes should know of this rule change before they set foot on University courts and fields, ensuring that they knowingly consent to such strict behavioral expectations beforehand.
“If student-athletes and prospective student-athletes are very aware of this policy before they come to the UO,” Rousseau said, “then this could be a positive change.”
However, according to the Testing Methods and Records clause (OAR 571-004-0025), student-athletes are only required to be provided a copy of the rules describing the Athletic Department Substance Use and Drug Testing program “before the start of the playing season.” In some instances, student-athletes “need not be given prior notice” that a urine sample will be collected, and the refusal of said test can be deemed in violation of administrative rules.
Clever said department members will promptly relay all of these new expectations to athletes as soon as they are ratified.
“Once it has been adopted,” Clever said, “we will meet with the student athletes and go over the new rules with them.”
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