New NCAA policy will affect Explorer student-athletes

By Adam Bagni
Collegian Staff
April 26, 2006

La Salle student-athletes may receive a visit from an unwelcome visitor this summer – an NCAA drug tester.

The NCAA has recently announced that, beginning this summer, all student-athletes will be subject to random drug testing at any time, including when classes aren’t in session. While student-athletes in all 16 NCAA sports are subject to the tests, the NCAA is reportedly more concerned with certain sports than with others. Specifically, members of baseball and football programs could be more likely to face the new summer drug testing policy.

The most interesting part of the new policy is the fact that athletes can now be tested away from NCAA approved testing facilities. This summer, Explorer athletes could be tested at their homes, on the job or potentially on vacation. Many of the particulars regarding what to do when an individual is away from their home residence are yet to be announced, however.

The new policy has come under fire from student-athletes across the country who believe that their amateur status should exempt them from such stringent testing, and many others who believe that the practice of having the NCAA drug tester “monitor” the excretion of urine sample is already crossing the line.

In my personal opinion, I support the increased testing, which is a result of most of the major American sports strengthening their own drug testing policies. However, I must say that the NCAA sends the wrong message here on a couple fronts.

Understandably, the NCAA sees members of football and baseball teams as more likely to use performance-enhancing drugs. However, by admitting that fact to the media, they are basically saying that the association cares more about catching individuals who are using performance- enhancing drugs than those who are using recreational drugs. Isn’t the point of drug testing to ensure the health and safety of the student-athlete?

In addition, and a lot of La Salle student-athletes will hate me for this, there needs to be a rule that exposes those who test positive. Every month the NCAA should list who tests positive for a substance, what school they go to and what the substance is. To me, there could be no greater deterrent.

bagnia1@lasalle.edu