
Drug use amongst athletes has been a major topic with the NCAA. Athletes have strict rules that they have to follow that relates to drugs such as street drugs, anabolic steroids, human growth hormones, alcohol creatine and stimulants. The NCAA conducts testing during its championship seasons and year round during the off season on college campuses at Division One and Division Two programs nationwide. More than six million dollars is spent by the NCAA annually on drug testing and education in an effort to reduce the use of banned and harmful substances. The punishments for failed drug test are different depending on whether the athlete tested positive for a performance enhancing drug or a street drug. If an athlete has tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug the punishment is strict and automatic because the NCAA usually administers these tests. For the first offense the student athlete loses one full year of eligibility. For the second offense they lose all of their remaining eligibility and cannot participate in anymore NCAA sports. On the other hand, failed drug tests for the use of street drugs is a lot more lenient.  “The first offense for a failed drug test because of street drugs results in withholding from competition for 50% of the season in all sports in which the student-athlete participates”, according to the NCAA website. The second offense results in loss of a year of eligibility and withholding from participation for 365 days from the test.  All of these are considered as a severe consequence, and  it is not worth the risk for a student athlete. Even though student athletes can test positive for street drugs and miss competition, every school has their own type of discipline for people that fail the test. Even though the NCAA drug test student athletes, the university has to administer their own drug tests. Some schools take the use of street drugs very seriously and would permanently dismiss someone from the team for one failed test. One the other hand some schools do not take failed drug tests as seriously because punishment would consist of community service. With that being said, one of the questions that has come up more recently with the list of banned substances is whether or not marijuana should be included.  Based on the research marijuana should not be considered a performance enhancing drug or a banned street drug because it does not give a student athlete an advantage. It is considered a recreational drug that is legalized in some states. The NCAA has been testing for marijuana use since 1986. They are taking a second look at the impact that marijuana has on college athletics. According to the NCAA, “nearly one-third of college athletes said they have used marijuana in a 12-month period. Sixteen percent of all Division 1 athletes and 17.4 percent of Division I football players admitted to using marijuana in a 12-month period, according to the study” Nslabaugh (2015). Twenty-three states have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Since that law was passed colleges that are within those states are having to take a second look at their campus policies. Marijuana is known to be the most popular recreational drug among college students. Marijuana is most common between college student because it is easily accessible. For states like Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington, they have run into the issue with their student athletes and marijuana use. Darren Carrington, a student athlete at the University of Oregon had to sit out his team’s national championship game after failing a drug test. In Darren’s defense he was in a state where marijuana was legalized so marijuana was easy to access. 

The purpose of this paper, is to show the effects of drug use on the performance of student athletes. This paper will also show why marijuana should not be a banned substance by the NCAA because it does not enhance an athlete’s performance. The final topic that will be addressed in this paper would be the drug testing procedures, as well as the punishment for failed drug test.  I will provide studies, research and articles that supports and show the effects that drugs have on the performance of a student athlete. This paper can be used as a guide line in research to educate others on the current status of drug use and college athletics. 

The effects that performance enhancing drugs have on student athletes are tremendous and can take a huge toll on their bodies. According to Richard Lapchick, “The different types of performance enhancing drugs are all used for different reasons. The different types are used for purposes such as muscle growth, to increase endurance, to delay fatigue or to improve performance in intense exercises” (Lapchick 2006). He also talked about some or even most performance enhancing drugs having side effects and how it affects an athletes physical and mental health. When student athletes are constantly drug tested there is a steep cost that is paid for people to give the test and for the materials that are used. According to Michael Bahrke, “Instead of authorities wasting money on drug testing student athletes, they should put that money towards injury prevention programs and the education of all students” (Bahrke,2017). For example, in Florida there was only 1 positive test out of 600 student athletes that were tested. Also, Florida terminated its drug testing program due to the cost of $100,000. That goes to show that drug testing student athletes in college is not a good way for the state to achieve their intended outcome. In regard to drug testing, several NCAA leaders would like to eliminate recreation drug testing all together which would force the university to drug test one their own. “In January, the NCAA's Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports introduced a proposal that would change the association's approach toward recreational drugs like marijuana. Instead of testing for the sake of punishment, the NCAA would work with schools to help educate athletes about drugs, deter athletes from using drugs and identify athletes who suffer from addiction” (Murschel, 2015). 

Performance enhancing drugs is not the only banned substance used by student athletes. Student athletes also use alcohol, tobacco and street drugs which also has an effect on their performance. According to James Drunkman, “Drugs and alcohol use amongst college students, especially athletes are on the constant rise” (Drunkman, 2017). In my opinion, I feel the popularity of college athletics and the easy access athletes have to these items make it easier for them to use. For example, at most Division One schools if the team wins a big game the student athletes usually got out to celebrate with the rest of the student body. At most college parties there is alcohol, marijuana and tobacco and in most cases the people using these products are under age. In 2008, David Yusko looked at the comparison of drugs used by college student athletes and non-athletes. Alcohol effects student athletes because heavy drinking can make an athlete sluggish the next day which can negatively affect their athleticism.  Another negative affect alcohol has on a student athlete is an increase in body weight. Tobacco also affects a student athlete because constant inhaling of tobacco products can affect their breathing long term because their lung will be full of tobacco products. Some college student athletes also use chewing tobacco which has long term effects and in most extreme cases, it creates throat and jaw cancer. Marijuana is similar to tobacco because it could affect your breathing and your lung capacity. According to the NCAA, “outside of alcohol, marijuana is the most popular recreational drug among college students outside of alcohol. Nearly one-third of college athletes said they have used marijuana at least once in a 12-month period. Sixteen percent of all Division I athletes and 17.4 percent of Division I football players admitted to using marijuana in a 12-month period, according to the study. Marijuana is among several substances on the NCAA's list of banned street drugs, along with amphetamines, cocaine and synthetic marijuana. Among these substances, marijuana (21.9 percent) was rated among the highest in usage by athletes during a 12-month period.” (Nslabaugh,2015). The NCAA does year-round drug testing, but it currently only tests for marijuana during bowl games in football and at the championship level for other Division I sports. If an athlete tests positive for marijuana, the person cannot participate in the bowl game or championship event and must sit out half of the ensuing season (NCAA, 2015). This information proves that the NCAA is not as concerned with marijuana as they are with performance enhancing drugs. In my opinion, student athletes are aware and understands when they will be drug tested so they know how to avoid failing the drug test. 

Even though marijuana is on the banned substance list by the NCAA, it does not enhance the performance of student athletes. Treyous Jarrells is a former student athlete that played running back at Colorado State University. He quit the team in 2014 because he was afraid he would get caught using marijuana and lose his scholarship. He has currently had a medical marijuana license to legally grow plants in Colorado and he feels that “It’s time to take marijuana off the banned-substance list.” He used marijuana prior to practice and games and he sees it as no different from his teammates that took 5 and 10 ibuprofens before practice. He considers marijuana to be a medicine than relives any stress and pain he may have. During the 1998 Winter Olympics, Ross Rebagliati failed a drug test for marijuana. Olympic snowboarder Ross Rebagliati was tested for a small amount of marijuana in his blood, during the 1998 Japan game. His championship was temporarily called into question. THC is a mind-altering chemical in that is found in marijuana. At the time, marijuana was not on the International Olympic Committee’s banned-substance list. Rebagliati was allowed to keep his victory and medal. He is now in the medical-marijuana business. According to Druinky, “Marijuana relaxes me and allows me to go into a controlled, meditational place.” Even though marijuana is not viewed as a performance enhancing drug, several studies have proved otherwise. A study was done by Stanford Medical School professor Keith Humphreys and it was proved that marijuana enhanced performance substantially: “The basic test was simple. He got on a treadmill, set the pace for five miles per hour, and then increased the ramp angle 2.5% every two minutes. Sober, he could keep it up for 19 minutes. But stoned, he could last 19:30 – a “substantial performance gains.” He repeated the study twice and got similar results. Also while under the influence of marijuana, he also found that he got less sore after a heavy squat session. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency marijuana is considered a Schedule 1 drug, so that makes it hard for researchers to study its effects. There has been a lot of research done on street drug use and the effects it has on student athletes. In my opinion, I think it is important for these athletes to be educated about its use and the long term affects it would have on them.

The purpose of drug testing is to get rid of cheating in the sport with the use of performance enhancing drugs. In my opinion, marijuana is not a performance enhancing drug and should not be on the banned substance list. Drug testing for street drugs is a waste of money and that money should be used towards injury prevention programs and to educate the student athletes. The education on these student athletes should begin while they are in high school or even younger. In Michael Bahrke’s article “Drug Testing US Student Athletes for Performance-Enhancing Substance Misuse: A Flawed Process”, how expensive drug testing is around the country. His research focus on high school drug testing in Texas, Florida, Illinois and New Jersey. An interesting thing I found about his research is that it was from four different areas in the country. In the state of Florida, drug testing was expensive and cost the schools and the state a lot of money. One reason for example being terminated in Florida there was only one out of 600 hundred student athletes that tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Florida terminated its drug testing program due to the cost of $100,000. Drug testing student athletes in high school is not a good way for the state to achieve their intended outcome. In my opinion drug testing for performance enhancing drugs is pointless in high school because it is difficult for the student athletes to gain access to performance enhancing drugs because of the cost. On the other-hand it is very easy for high school student athletes to gain access to street drugs because it is cheaper and your classmates sell marijuana in some cases. 

In conclusion, performance enhancing drugs is a current problem and an issue in college athletics. Performance enhancing drugs is an issue because it is a form of cheating and the NCAA works and tries to clean up their sports. Another issue with performance enhancing drugs is that it will have long term effects on your health. Performance enhancing drugs and street drugs are all on the banned substance list for the NCAA. Even though street drugs are on the banned substance list, I strongly believe that they should be removed because they do not enhance a student athlete’s performance. A lot of research has been done to support my claim that street drugs especially marijuana does not enhance a student athlete’s performance. Marijuana use amongst college student athletes is very high as well as alcohol and tobacco use. The drug testing procedures for student athletes in college is not the best. For instance, student athletes are only tested for street drugs during championship time by the NCAA. Colleges and universities have their own drug testing procedures but it is not as strict as the NCAA. Performance enhancing drugs and drug use is a issue and an important topic with student athletes. In my opinion educating student athletes, coaches and future college athletes about drug use would be beneficial. A lot of money is used on drug testing student athletes for street drugs but they can use that money to start educating the athletes when they are much younger. I feel with harsher penalties in colleges and universities being tougher drug use can be under control in colleges and universities. 
