FILE: IDFAA
DRUG TESTING OF ATHLETES
In today's society, athletes are high profiled individuals who are seen as role models for their peers and as representatives of their schools and communities in other areas of the state and country. As a result of the high visibility of athletes and the inherent danger of participating in athletics under the influence of drugs, it is not unreasonable to hold the student-athletes to higher degrees of accountability and standards than the normal school population. In an effort to protect the health and safety of athletes, minimize injuries, provide a safe environment for competition, and to prevent experimentation and the use of drugs by athletes, the Rapides Parish School Board shall require all students who participate in extracurricular athletic activities to be subject to drug screenings.
SCOPE
Prior to participating in any Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) sanctioned sport, the student athlete and parent/guardian shall be required to sign the LHSAA Substance Abuse/Misuse Contract and the Rapides Parish School Board Student Athlete Drug Testing Consent form. These arrangements state that all student athletes shall be subject to drug testing. These tests shall be strictly enforced and participation shall be mandatory, since the parents/guardians have freely chosen to allow their son(s)/daughter(s) to participate in athletic programs. No athlete shall be tested unless the parent(s)/guardian(s) and the athlete sign both the LHSAA and Rapides Parish School Board forms giving permission to have the tests performed. Refusal to allow these tests to be administered shall immediately disqualify such student from participation in any extracurricular athletics.
Testing Personnel
To preserve the integrity and validity of the drug testing program, all urinalysis testing shall be conducted by an independent certified laboratory contracted by the School Board. The samples sent to the lab shall be routinely tested for drugs or other performance altering substances as may be determined by the Superintendent or designee. Allowance for prescription drugs shall be accounted for in reporting results from the laboratory.
Athletes Tested
All students who participate in any interscholastic athletic activity shall be eligible for drug testing. All starters in all varsity sports parishwide shall be tested at least once, and at least 20% of all athletes shall be tested during the season and during the off-season. Athletes other than starting players shall be chosen at random to undergo the drug screening. Testing shall occur at random intervals with no advance notice to be given any student.
TESTING PROCEDURES
Students selected for drug screening shall appear at the time and place designated for screening. Each student shall complete a specimen control form prior to testing and shall be assigned a control number. At this time, the student shall identify any and all prescription drugs the student is currently taking.
The student shall then enter an empty restroom, locker room, or other room designated for specimen collection, accompanied by an adult monitor of the same sex. Remaining fully clothed, each student shall produce a urine sample. Each monitor shall listen for normal sounds of urination. After the sample is produced, it shall be given to the monitor, who shall check it for temperature and tampering, and seal the vial for transporting. Each vial shall be properly tagged and shipped to the certified laboratory.
TEST RESULTS
Test results shall be disclosed according to strict procedures regarding the chain of custody and access to the results. Test results shall be maintained in the office of the Superintendent or his/her designee. All samples yielding a positive result shall be immediately re-tested for confirmation purposes. A confirmed positive result shall be conclusive evidence that drugs were present in the student's system at the time of the drug test. If the confirmation test is negative, no further action is taken. If the confirmation test is positive, the following procedures are enacted:
First Violation - Upon receipt of a first confirmed positive test, the principal/ designee will notify the parents and the student and set up a conference. The principal then notifies the athletic director/coach. Upon receipt of a confirmed positive result, the student will be immediately suspended from all extracurricular athletic activities. The student must attend the prescribed four (4) weeks mandatory drug assistance program and show verification of attendance. The student must then submit to a weekly re-test at the student's expense. At the end of the four (4) weeks program and upon written notification of a negative re-test and proof of completion of the prescribed drug assistance program, the student shall be eligible to participate in extracurricular athletic activities. The student shall also be tested regularly until graduation.
Second Violation - Upon receipt of a second confirmed positive test, the student will be immediately dismissed from all extracurricular athletic activities for twelve (12) calendar months. Before re-entry into any extracurricular athletic activities, the student shall undergo a drug assessment by a certified substance abuse professional and provide written proof of completion of any prescribed recommendations, at the student's expense. Additionally, the student must test negative on a re-test after completion of any prescribed recommendations, at the student's expense, using a laboratory selected by the Superintendent and approved by the Board.
Third Violation - Upon receipt of a third confirmed positive test, the student shall be terminated from all extracurricular athletic activities for the remainder of his/her high school career.
Any re-tests must be conducted by a laboratory contracted by the Board. Any expense for the re-test, the drug assistance program, and the drug assessment prescribed above, is the responsibility of the student.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Confidentiality of the drug test results shall be maintained at all times. Such results shall never be used as a basis for disciplinary action other than that as set forth in this policy. This policy supplements other drug testing policies previously adopted by the School Board.
CONSENT FORM
Parents/guardians and the student athletes shall be required to sign the LHSAA Substance Abuse/Misuse Contract and the Rapides Parish School Board Drug Test Authorization/Release Form, which shall release the Rapides Parish School Board, its members, as well as any employees, teachers, coaches, principals, administrators, agents and contractors from all liability in connection with this policy and its administration. It shall be understood that the Rapides Parish School Board assumes no responsibility for the diagnosis, or treatment of any disease or condition that may become known as a result of the tests described in this policy.
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:81, 40:961, 49:1111
Vernonia School District 47J v. Acton, 515 U.S. 646 (1995)
Official Handbook, Louisiana High School Athletic Association
Board minutes, 11-6-96, 6-17-02
Rapides Parish School Board