March 8, 2005

Question : The NCAA has a list of banned substance, does Stony Brook test for any of these? If so, which ones and how often? Are all teams/players tested, or only some? For the ones that would be, are they selected randomly? When will there be testing done in the future? and is there any information on how Stony Brook has done in the past in reference to use of banned substances?

Answer:

Hi Dave,

Super question. Let me take a moment to try to answer your inquiry as best as I can.....so here it goes....

All SBU student-athletes are informed about the use of NCAA banned substances through several methods throughout their athletic career at Stony Brook. Being a member of the NCAA, Stony Brook is required to follow the NCAA Drug-Testing Program which was created to protect the health and safety of student-athletes and to ensure that no one participant might have an artificially induced advantage or be pressured to use chemical substances. In addition these substances can be harmful to the student-athlete's health. Below are some points regarding the NCAA Drug-Testing Program which selects student-athletes randomly:
Every Division I institution is drug tested at least once each academic year. Each institution may be selected for testing more than once each academic year. Every Division I sport is subject to out-of-competition (year round) drug testing. All student-athletes are subject to drug testing before, during or after their competitive season. All student-athletes are subject to NCAA testing at NCAA championships or in conjunction with postseason bowl events.

Currently, we are thoroughly researching and investigating the feasibility of our own institutional program beyond this mandatory NCAA Drug Testing Program. SBU and the Department of Athletics are absolutely committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment where student-athletes can develop socially, academically and athletically to their fullest potential, and part of that environment is assuring the student-athletes' physical and mental well-being. This comprehensive program would include drug education, testing, counseling and rehabilitation to deal with the growing problem of substance abuse in intercollegiate athletics.

Please let us know if you have any further questions. If you do, please contact Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine Kathy Koshansky at 631-632-7217 or e-mail her at Kathryn.Koshansky@stonybrook.edu.

Have a great day and Go Seawolves!

Sincerely, Jim