2431.01 - ATHLETIC DRUG TESTING

Leipsic Local School District

Bylaws & Policies

2431.01 - ATHLETIC DRUG TESTING
PURPOSE OF POLICY

Recognizing that the potential use of alcohol and illegal drugs by the School District athletes is a concern, a program of deterrence will be instituted as a pro-active approach to insure the safety and well being of our students.

LANGUAGE OF THE POLICY

The policy provides random drug testing of student athletes. This random drug testing will be done on a weekly basis, and students are obligated to be tested, if their number is drawn. If they refuse, they will be denied the right to participate with the athletic team.

NON-PUNITIVE NATURE OF POLICY

No student athlete will be penalized academically for testing positive for illegal drugs or banned substances as a result of this policy. The results of drug tests pursuant to this policy will not be documented in any student's academic record nor will the results be disclosed to criminal or juvenile authorities absent legal compulsion by valid and binding subpoena or other legal process.

PROCEDURES THAT WILL BE USED

The random testing for the use of drugs will begin with the fall sports seasons and conclude at the end of the spring sports season at the end of the school year. During this time frame Putnam County Primary Care personnel will test a specific number of students each week. Students', who will be identified by number only, will be picked at random by the office personnel. The students will immediately be transported to the office in Leipsic by the coach, the athletic director, or an administrator to take a urine test for the use of illegal or banned substances.

The results of these tests will be held in the highest confidence. Parents/guardians/custodians will be notified immediately by the high school principal if a student is to be tested for the use of illegal substances.

Before students will be allowed to participate in any sport, they and their parents/guardian/custodian will be asked to sign an informed Consent Agreement, which allows the school to move forward and test for the use of illegal or banned drugs. There is a consent agreement for the parent/guardian/custodian, as well as a consent agreement for the student athlete to sign.

Also enclosed is a CONSENT TO PERFORM URINALYSIS FOR DRUG TESTING FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 2007-08. This information is what parents and athletes are agreeing to when signing the consent form. Please read it carefully and know that professionals will handle everything with the strictest confidentiality being maintained.

PROCEDURES FOR RANDOM URINE DRUG TESTING OF LEIPSIC LOCAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS PARTICIPATING
IN INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS

	A.	LIST OF ELIGIBLE STUDENT ATHLETES
		Each week the athletic director will update a list of eligible student athletes participating in sports. This list will be forwarded to the physician for the random selection of student athletes who will submit urine specimens for testing.
	B.	RANDOM SELECTION OF STUDENT ATHLETES FOR TESTING
		The physician will use a system to assure that students are selected in a random fashion. This system may include computer generated random numbers or names or by pulling numbers from a pot of numbers equal to the number of eligible student athletes.
	C.	SCHEDULING OF URINE DRUG TESTING
		Urine drug testing is unannounced. The day and date are selected by the physician and confirmed with the building principal. Random testing may be done weekly except during holidays and spring breaks.
	D.	IN-SEASON DATES
		In-season start dates will begin as published by the Ohio High School Athletic Association or sanctioning organization and continue until the completion of all contests for that sport for Leipsic Local Schools. The athletic director will provide the physician with these dates.
	E.	FORM COMPLETION
		The physician is responsible for seeing that proper drug testing custody and control forms are used that satisfy the needs of the Policy for Random Urine Drug Testing of Leipsic Local School District Students Participating in Interscholastic Sports and the testing laboratory. A student number will be used for identification with the student's name only appearing on the copies that go to the student, Medical Review Officer (MRO), and Superintendent.
	F.	MEDICAL REVIEW OFFICER (MRO) RESPONSIBILITIES
		The MRO will review all results of urine drug testing. Any urine specimen testing positive for illegal or banned substances will be handled in the following manner:

		1.	The MRO determines if any discrepancies have occurred in the Chain of Custody.
		2.	Depending on the substances found in the urine, if necessary the MRO would contact the parent/guardian/custodian and ask for an appointment with the student and parents to determine if the student is on any prescribed medication from a physician.
		3.	If the student is on medication, the parent/guardian/custodian will be asked to obtain a letter from the prescribing physician, within five (5) working days, to document what medications the student is currently taking. Failure to provide such requested information will be considered a positive result.
		4.	The MRO will then determine if any of the prescribed medications resulted in the positive drug screen.

			a.	For example, a drug screen positive for codeine would be reported as negative by the MRO when s/he receives a letters from the treating physician that the student has been prescribed Tylenol© with codeine as a pain medication for approved medical reasons.
			b.	Or, if the student has a positive drug screen for codeine and has no documented physician order for the medication (maybe a parent gave the student one of their pills), this would be ruled a positive drug test by the MRO. Students may not use medications prescribed for someone else.

The MRO will complete the final review on the drug testing custody and control form and return the appropriate copy to the building principal in a confidential manner. This review is completed within the Federal guidelines. Reference: Federal Regs 49 CRP Part 40 "Procedures for Work Place Drug and Alcohol Testing".

	G.	PICK-UP PROCESS
		The MRO is responsible for seeing that specimens are delivered to or picked up by the testing laboratory and the Chain of Custody form properly annotated. School officials will provide transportation for student athletes to the testing site.
	H.	ILLEGAL OR BANNED SUBSTANCES
		For the purpose of this policy, the following drug classes, substances or their metabolites that can be tested for that are illegal or banned for Leipsic Local School District Student Athletes:
		Alcohol, Barbiturates, LSD, Methaqualone, Phencyclidine, Amphetamines, Benzodiazepines, Marijuana, Metabolites, Nicotine, Propoxphene, Anabolic Steroids, Cocaine Metabolites, Methadone, and Opiates.
	I.	PROCEDURES IN THE EVENT OF A POSITIVE RESULT
		When the presence of illegal drugs or banned substances has been verified in the collected specimens, the student athlete will be subject to the consequences as set forth by the Leipsic Local School Policy Handbook for Athletes (Athletic Code of Conduct).

First Positive Result

			a.	Result in denial of participation of 50% of the scheduled season's contests, not including canceled/postponed or pre-season contests. Attendance of athletes at practice shall be up to the discretion of the coach.
			b.	In the event that denial of participation occurs with less than 50% of the season remaining, the remaining percentage will be continuously served in the next season of participation.
			c.	If the student agrees to participate in an educational/rehabilitation/assessment program approved by the school administration, the penalty shall be reduced to 10% of the scheduled season's contests. Refusal or failure to complete the program shall result in application of full 50% penalty. The student must practice with his/her activity group but may not travel with the group or sit with the group during contests. The participant must follow all training rules and regulations of the activity. Cost of approved program will be at student expense.

Self-Referral Policy: If a student seeks assistance for dealing with a substance abuse program by self-referral to their coach and/or school administrator, and they agree to participate in an educational/rehabilitation/assessment program approved by the school administration, there shall be NO prohibition from the current athletic activity. Refusal or failure to complete the program will result in the full 50% penalty. Self-referrals, which result in no prohibition from participation, are still considered first violations. A self-referral made within five (5) days of a reported violation will void the self-referral and option a. above will be made available. Cost of rehabilitation program will be at student expense.

Second Positive Result

			a.	Result in denial of participation from that sport for the remainder of the season plus the next two (2) sport seasons of participation.
			b.	If the student agrees to participate in education/rehabilitation/assessment program approved by the school administration, the penalty shall be reduced to 50% of the scheduled season events. Failure to take or complete the program will result in the full penalty. Cost of the rehabilitation program will be at student expense.

			c.	In the event that denial of participation occurs with less than 50% of the season remaining, the remaining percentage will be continuously served in the next season of participation
			d.	If a student seeks assistance for dealing with a substance abuse problem by self-referral to their coach and/or school administrator after having a first violation on their record, it is considered a second violation. If they agree to participate in an educational/rehabilitation/assessment program approved by the school administration, the prohibition from participation in athletic activities shall be reduced to 20% of the scheduled season contests. Failure to take or complete the program will result in the full penalty. A self-referral made within five (5) days of a reported violation will void the self-referral and option a. of the second violations will be made available. Cost of rehabilitation program will be at student expense.

Third Positive Result: Permanent prohibition from all athletic extra-curricular programs.

TESTING
SCHOOL YEAR 2007-08

We hereby consent to allow the student named on this form to undergo urinalysis testing for the presence of illegal drugs or banned substances in accordance with the Policy and Procedure for Random Urine Drug Testing of Leipsic Local School District Students Participating in Interscholastic Sports as approved by the Leipsic Local School Board of Education.

We understand that qualified personnel outside the School District will oversee the collection process.

We understand that any urine samples will be sent only to a certified medical laboratory for actual testing, and that the samples will be coded to provide confidentiality.

We hereby give our consent to the medical vendor selected by the Leipsic Local School Board, their laboratory, doctors, employees, or agents, to release all results of these tests to the Medical Review Officer (MRO) working for the medical vendor.

We understand these results will be forwarded to the Superintendent and will also be made available to us. We understand that consent pursuant to this Informed Consent Agreement will be effective for all athletic sports in which this student athlete might participate during the current school year.

We hereby release Leipsic Local School Board and its employees from any legal responsibility or liability for the release of such information and records.

This will be deemed consent pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. 1232 as amended, and R.C. 3319.321, for the release of the test results as authorized by this Informed Consent Agreement or as required by law.

See Form 2431.01 F1

Adopted 12/12/06