Steroid Testing

NJSIAA’S STEROID TESTING POLICY

In accordance with Executive Order 72, issued by the Governor of the State of New Jersey, Richard J. Codey, on December 20, 2005, the NJSIAA will test a random selection of student athletes, who have qualified, as individuals or as members of a team, for state championship competition.

  1. List of banned substances: A list of banned substances shall be prepared annually by the Medical Advisory Committee, and approved by the Executive Committee.

  2. Consent form: Before participating in interscholastic sports, the student-athlete and the student-athlete’s parent or guardian shall consent, in writing, to random testing in accordance with this policy. Failure to sign the consent form renders the student-athlete ineligible.

  3. Selection of athletes to be tested: Tested athletes will be selected randomly from all of those athletes participating in championship competition. Testing may occur at any state championship site or at the school whose athletes have qualified for championship competition

  4. Administration of tests: Tests shall be administered by a certified laboratory, selected by the Executive Director and approved by the Executive Committee.

  5. Testing methodology: The methodology for taking and handling samples shall be in accordance with current legal standards.

  6. Sufficiency of results: No test shall be considered a positive result unless the approved laboratory reports a positive result, and the NJSIAA’s medical review officer confirms that there was no medical reason for the positive result. A “B” sample shall be available in the event of an appeal.

  7. Appeal process: If the certified laboratory reports that a student-athlete’s sample has tested positive, and the medical review officer confirms that there is no medical reason for a positive result, a penalty shall be imposed unless the student-athlete proves, by a preponderance of the evidence, that he or she bears no fault or negligence for the violation. Appeals shall be heard by a NJSIAA committee consisting of two members of the Executive Committee, the Executive Director/designee, a trainer and a physician. Appeal of a decision of the Committee shall be to the Commissioner of Education, for public school athletes, and to the superior court, for non-public athletes. Hearings shall be held in accordance with NJSIAA By-Laws, Article XIII, “Hearing Procedure.”

  1. Penalties. Any person who tests positively in an NJSIAA administered test, or any person who refuses to provide a testing sample, or any person who reports his or her own violation, shall immediately forfeit his or her eligibility to participate in NJSIAA competition for a period of one year from the date of the test. Any such person shall also forfeit any individual honor earned while in violation. No person who tests positive, refuses to provide a test sample, or who reports his or her own violation shall resume eligibility until he or she has undergone counseling and produced a negative test result.

  2. Confidentiality: Results of all tests shall be considered confidential and shall only be disclosed to the individual, his or her parents and his or her school.

  3. Compilation of results: The Executive Committee shall annually compile and report the results of the testing program.

  4. Yearly renewal of the steroid policy: The Executive Committee shall annually determine whether this policy shall be renewed or discontinued.

June 1, 2007