Written By: Aryssa Enriquez and Lillian Morris
Headlines of collegiate athletes abusing substances are becoming more frequent. According to surveys and research conducted by Project Know an average of 22.3 percent of students admit to having used drugs in the past year. Furthermore, Project Know emphasizes how athletes tend to have a higher probability of using drugs rather than non-athlete students.
The Javelina Athletic Department emphasizes a quality athletic experience and provides student athletes with an opportunity to improve their intellectual, physical and personal development within a competitive environment. The use of drugs infringes with the purpose of Javelina athletics; therefore, TAMUK performs random drug tests on a minimum of 25 percent of student athletes.
“I feel like it’s necessary. People that do drugs and get caught should be disciplined. Being an athlete- especially in college – you are held to a higher standard, so you are like a role model. If you get caught doing drugs… then what are people going to think of you and the school?” said Bridget Upton, a player on the TAMUK women’s basketball team.
At TAMUK, the rules and guidelines within the athletic department and drug testing are closely related to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules. A positive drug test from a TAMUK athlete will result in immediate suspension. A minimum of 14 days of suspension is punishable to the athlete, and a head coach may prolong the suspension if deemed necessary. Javelina Athletics primarily conducts drug test screening for amphetamines, cannabinoids and other street drugs. However, the athletic department can drug test an athlete for any of the banned drugs listed in the NCAA list.
If selected for drug testing, there is a series of steps an athlete will have to complete. Although, the process is based on randomization, athletes are expected to cooperate and follow the process of drug testing.
“I think if they are going to drug test us, they should take it more serious than they do ‘cause from my former experiences, it wasn’t held to the standard that I thought they would hold it to,” said, Kristina Kana another player on TAMUK’s women’s basketball team.
It’s important to remember that tampering with stimulants, peptide hormones, and other drugs can jeopardize the career of any student athlete and can also jeopardize the school’s reputation and standards as well.
Consequences are established to help student athletes reach their full potential in a driven environment, and it’s necessary and important to follow the NACA rules and guidelines, along with TAMUK’s rules and drug testing policies.