As Oregon's success increases, school softens drug policy
As Oregon's success on the football field has increased in recent years, so has the school's leniency in student-athletes that test positive for drugs.
Two years ago, a player was dismissed at Oregon after a third positive drug test. However, now it takes four positive drug tests before dismissal, according to the school's substance abuse policy.
In 2010, Oregon's substance abuse policy, obtained through a public records request, indicated that the “continuing use of tested-for drugs on two occasions beyond the initial positive test, the student-athlete shall be expelled from the team and shall lose all athletic grant-in-aid support beginning with the next academic term.”
Under the current policy, a third positive test only results in missing 50 percent of games played in a season. If a player's ineligibility is not complete by the end of post season play, it carries over to the next season.
A fourth positive test at Oregon results in dismissal and the player “will lose all grant-in-aid support, beginning with the next academic term.”
Of the more than 60 BCS schools, Oregon is one of at least 17 schools that require at least four positive drugs tests before dismissal, according to public record requests obtained in the past two years by CBSSports.com. The BCS schools, which include five Pac-12 members, are: Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, UConn, Louisville, Rutgers, Illinois, Penn State, Purdue, Oklahoma State, Arizona, UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Arkansas, Florida and Mississippi State.
Oregon athletic director Rob Mullen said in a statement Wednesday that “student-athlete welfare is of the utmost importance to the University of Oregon.” He did not address why the school had recently weakened its substance abuse policy.
“Similar to many college campuses wrestling with the same issue, the University of Oregon actively works to address potential use of any illegal substance through a combination of education, prevention and enforcement activities,” Mullen said in a statement. “Student-athletes at the University of Oregon are tested for illegal substances to the full extent possible under existing Oregon state law, which prohibits random testing. We continue to work diligently to educate our student-athletes on the harmful impact of illegal substances. In addition, we have articulated our illegal substances policy to our student-athletes and have clearly defined sanctions for a positive test.”
ESPN the Magazine, quoting former and current Oregon players, estimated Wednesday that 40-60 percent of Oregon's football players smoke marijuana.
Two years ago, a player was dismissed at Oregon after a third positive drug test. However, now it takes four positive drug tests before dismissal, according to the school's substance abuse policy.
In 2010, Oregon's substance abuse policy, obtained through a public records request, indicated that the “continuing use of tested-for drugs on two occasions beyond the initial positive test, the student-athlete shall be expelled from the team and shall lose all athletic grant-in-aid support beginning with the next academic term.”
Under the current policy, a third positive test only results in missing 50 percent of games played in a season. If a player's ineligibility is not complete by the end of post season play, it carries over to the next season.
A fourth positive test at Oregon results in dismissal and the player “will lose all grant-in-aid support, beginning with the next academic term.”
Of the more than 60 BCS schools, Oregon is one of at least 17 schools that require at least four positive drugs tests before dismissal, according to public record requests obtained in the past two years by CBSSports.com. The BCS schools, which include five Pac-12 members, are: Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, UConn, Louisville, Rutgers, Illinois, Penn State, Purdue, Oklahoma State, Arizona, UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Arkansas, Florida and Mississippi State.
Oregon athletic director Rob Mullen said in a statement Wednesday that “student-athlete welfare is of the utmost importance to the University of Oregon.” He did not address why the school had recently weakened its substance abuse policy.
“Similar to many college campuses wrestling with the same issue, the University of Oregon actively works to address potential use of any illegal substance through a combination of education, prevention and enforcement activities,” Mullen said in a statement. “Student-athletes at the University of Oregon are tested for illegal substances to the full extent possible under existing Oregon state law, which prohibits random testing. We continue to work diligently to educate our student-athletes on the harmful impact of illegal substances. In addition, we have articulated our illegal substances policy to our student-athletes and have clearly defined sanctions for a positive test.”
ESPN the Magazine, quoting former and current Oregon players, estimated Wednesday that 40-60 percent of Oregon's football players smoke marijuana.
