Policy 1202: Intercollegiate Athletics: Sanctions for Positive                      Drug Tests  Responsible Office: Intercollegiate Athletics Responsible Area: President's Office

I.    PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for issuing sanctions relating to drug and alcohol violations by student-athletes.

II.    POLICY

A. Drug Offenses:

 

1.  First Drug Offense During the Student-Athletes' Four-Year NCAA Eligibility:

 

a.  The student-athlete will be suspended from practice and competitions immediately with no less than one missed date of competition. The student-athlete may be reinstated on the team with the approval of the Athletic Director.

b.  The student-athlete will participate in a conference with the head coach and/or the Athletic Director.

 

c.  The student-athlete will be placed on probation. The probationary 

period will be determined by the head coach and Athletic Director.  It will be communicated in writing to the student-athlete.

d.  The student-athlete will receive a written warning outlining the sanctions for a second violation.

2.  Drug Offense During the Student-Athlete's Probation Period:

a.  The student-athlete will be immediately suspended from practice and competitions and his/her athletic scholarship will not be renewed at the start of the next academic semester.

b.  The student-athlete will participate in a meeting with the head coach and the Athletic Director.
   

c.  The student-athlete's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) will receive written notification from the Athletic Director.

d.  The student-athlete will be referred to a professional counselor with whom issues on substance abuse will be addressed.

e.  Reinstatement on the team will depend on the recommendation of the Athletic Director. Athletic scholarships will not be reinstated.

At any point in this process, the student-athlete will have the opportunity to discuss the matter with the Athletic Director and to present evidence of any mitigating circumstances that the student-athlete believes important.

3.  Alcohol Policy Violations: 

a.  First offense will be handled by the coach if self reported by the student-athlete. The coach will impose a team penalty making it clear to the offending student-athlete that such inappropriate action negatively affects the entire team and therefore, that action will cause the entire team to suffer the consequences.

(1) If the offending student-athlete does not self-report before the Director of Athletics is notified of an offense by Longwood or other authorities, the athletic director will impose a one (1) to three (3) contest suspension on the offending student-athlete. This penalty will be in addition to the above team penalty.

                    (2) A note of all recorded student-athlete alcohol violations is
                     provided to the Director of Athletics and will be maintained in
                     that office.

b.  Second offense will require meeting with the Director of Athletics and will include a doubling of the first offense "team" penalty and a community service assignment for the offending student-athlete. It also will require the student-athlete’s initiative to seek alcohol counseling and complete the   "Alcohol 101" computer learning program. This offense will also include a
 one to three contest suspension as determined by the Director of Athletics.

c.  Third offense will result in permanent suspension from Longwood Intercollegiate Athletics and loss of any athletics financial aid.

Revised and approved by the Board of Visitors, September 7, 2002.

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