Drug Testing in Sports

1. Drug Testing in Sports Chapter 17 Pharmacology

2. Drug Abuse in Sports • The history of taking drugs to improve performance dates back to World War II when German soldiers were given steroids to increase their strength and aggression.

3. Athletes take drugs By purpose Accidentally Self-Administration Quacks Couch Advice Doctors Paramed

4. What is Drug Testing? Drug testing generically refers to the analysis of bodily tissues or fluids to determine the presence and/or concentration of a particular substance • Drug Testing vs. Drug Screening • Drug Screening is the qualitative analysis of body tissue or fluid to broadly determine the presence of particular substances • Drug Testingin the most precise sense refers to quantitative analysis of bodily tissues or fluids to determine concentrations of particular substances

5. History of Drug Testing • First drug testing was for alcohol during prohibition • Another early use of drug testing was in sports • First used to detect if horses were being given morphine thought to be a performance enhancer • Human athletes were being tested by the 1960’s • The military began testing during the Vietnam war. However systematic testing did not begin until the 1980’s • Private industry began drug testing of employees in the 1980’s • Practice became widespread following Executive Order #12564, by President Reagan, establishing Drug Free Work Place

6. Examples of Athletes using drugs Ben Johnson: The American 100-meter gold medal winner was disqualified in Seoul Olympics 1988 due to Stanozolol abuse. Then lifetime ban in 1993 due to Testosterone abuse.

7. Examples of Athletes using drugs Ronnie O'Sullivan: The British snooker player has forfeited prize money of $100,000 after a positive test for cannabis.

8. Examples of Athletes using drugs Dieter Binus: Accused of causing bodily harm to female East German swimmers by giving them anabolic steroids.

9. Effectiveness of Drug Testing • Difficult to evaluate effectiveness because of multiplicity of goals of drug testing: • Identification of drug users in an organization • Deterrence of drug use • Improvement of worker morale • Increased productivity • Decreased workplace accidents • Overall cost-effectiveness

10. Controversies Surrounding Drug Testing • Reliability of Drug Testing • Great potential for false positives, particularly on EMIT • Most drug tests do not measure current level of drug use/impairment • Constitutionality of Drug Testing • Violation of Fourth Amendment protections? • Violation of Fifth Amendment protections? • Violation of Fourteenth Amendment protections?

11. Drug Testing • NCAA goals of drug testing programs: • Promote fair and equitable competition • Compete on a “level playing field” • No athlete should feel pressured to consume drugs to have a chance to win • Safeguard the health and safety of athletes by discouraging drug use through testing • Hope of athletes using drugs to be caught so they can be counseled and receive treatment

12. What is being testing during a drug test? • A list of banned drugs have been established by NCAA and an Olympic Committee. • These lists are composed of substances that are generally reported to be performance enhancing and/or potentially harmful to the health and safety of the student athlete

13. Selection of Athlete • Random selection of athlete by sport • Random selection of athlete by position • Random selection of athlete by playing time or finish position • Random selection of athlete by financial aid status • Random timing-no notice • Reasonable suspicion

14. Methods of Drug Testing • Breath tests • Used exclusively for alcohol • Least invasive • Blood, urine, saliva test • Testing of these 3 body fluids involves same basic technology • Problems identified with all 3 • Hair analysis • Can preserve record of drug use for an indefinite period of time • Also because of the way hair grows, can determine approximately when drugs were taken (within about a month) • More precise determination, however, is not possible

15. Drug Testing Methods • Urinalysis is most common method • Enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT): • Light absorption to establish level of drugs present in urine • Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS): • EMIT positive tests must be followed up by GC-MS • Separates compounds in urine and developing fingerprints for each compound.

16. Drug Testing Methods Cont. • Athletes will be observed by a drug testing crew member of the same gender • Length of collection process depends on the athlete’s ability to provide adequate specimen • Entire process is usually completed in 20 mins.

17. Can large amt. of fluids mask drug test? • NO!! • NCAA requires athlete’s urinesample to be analyzed on site before sending to lab • Diluted specimen- athlete will be required to remain in drug testing until an adequate specimen is collected

18. NFL Drug Testing • NFL tests for recreational drugs • Athletes given specified date and plenty of advanced warning • Positive tests athlete is given a second chance before suspension • League treats recreational drug use as a medical issue and wants to get athlete help

19. NFL Drug Testing Cont. • Steroid Testing • Random testing given each week • Computer randomly selects the athlete • 1st positive test, athlete suspended for four games • 2nd positive test, suspended for six games • 3rd positive test, suspended for at least one year

20. NFL Drug Testing Cont. • Testing for masking agents • If athlete tries to pass a drug test using these agents, they are suspended, even if a steroid is not detected

21. NBA Drug Testing • Notification during practice on the day of testing that they must provide a urine sample • Everyone will be tested at least once during the four week preseason… • rookies will be tested three more times, randomly and without notification each season • Veterans will be tested during preseason only

22. NBA Positive Testing Results • Positive tests for cocaine, heroin or other “hard drugs” will be barred from the NBA for two years • Positive tests for marijuana will go into a treatment program after the first offense • 2nd offense they will be fined • Additional offenses will lead to more fines and subsequent suspension

23. MLB Drug Testing • Players undergo two unannounced test • An initial test and a follow-up five to seven days later • Failing to take test counts as a positive test, as will attempting to alter a specimen or using a masking agent • Banned substances are those listed by the FDA • Includes 27 types of steroids

24. High School Drug Testing • Consent form must be signed by athlete and parent/guardian prior to season • If athlete refuses they may not participate that season • Incoming athletes during a season must sign consent before participating

25. High School Cont. • Drug Testing: • Done without prior warning to student • Positive tests-Medical Review Officer must contact parents/guardian and school admin. • This results in immediate dismissal from team • If not currently participating in sport, then the student shall be required to miss the entire season for the next sport in which the student normally participates in. • Required to undergo drug counseling • 2nd violation-permanently prohibited from participating in sports