STUDENT-ATHLETE SANCTIONS
Refusal to sign a consent form prohibits a student-athlete from participating in any intercollegiate sport at Ottawa University. Any student athlete who tests positive for a banned substance or who refuses to submit to a required drug test, and/or who violates the terms of the safe harbor program as described in this policy shall be subject to the sanctions below. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a team physician or full-time athletic trainer, in his/her discretion, reserves the right to withhold a student-athlete from practice and/or competition if such practice and/or competition would pose a threat to the health and safety of the student-athlete or his/her competitors. However, any decision to restrict a student-athlete from practice and/or competition for health and safety concerns related to substance abuse shall be reported on Appendix D: Substance Abuse Reasonable Suspicion Reporting Form and based on credible evidence. In regards to student-athletes who have entered the Safe Harbor program or who have tested positive, only the team physician or full-time athletic trainer, based on recommendations and in consultation with the professional counselor, may release a student-athlete to resume competition and/or practice if deemed safe to do so. All violations of this policy are cumulative for the student-athlete’s athletic career at Ottawa University. In addition to the athletic department sanctions listed below, as a student of Ottawa University, the student-athlete may be subjected to other University penalties. As in the case with any violation of the student conduct code, any offense, even a first offense, can be punished with sanctions up to and including expulsion, depending on the nature and circumstances of the violation, the prior record of the student, and other factors deemed pertinent.
First Violation
• Upon notification of a first positive test result for a banned substance or other violation of the policy while enrolled at Ottawa University, the Director of Athletics will schedule a confidential meeting with the student-athlete, the head coach and full-time athletic trainer to inform them of the positive test result. The OUKS President and University Chancellor will also be notified of the positive test results.
• The student-athlete (if under 21 years of age) will be required, in the presence of two of the following persons—Director of Athletics, Head Coach of the sport in which the student-athlete participates, Substance Abuse Education/Testing Coordinator or the Full-time athletic trainer—to contact his or her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) by a telephone call. Text messaging will not be considered a viable form of communication in this situation. A written letter will also be provided by the Director of Athletics to the coach and student-athlete.
• Upon notification of a first positive test result for a banned substance or other violation of the policy while enrolled at Ottawa University, the student-athlete will be immediately suspended from participation in any intercollegiate competition at Ottawa University. The suspension will be for 30% of a regular season of competition in the sport including the post season (coaches have the discretion to increase the duration of suspension based on their team rules). The student-athlete will not be allowed to physically participate in practices or team workouts for a minimum of two (2) weeks following a violation.
¦ 30% of the season will be determined by calculating 30% multiplied by the number of regular season varsity contests/games and rounding up to ensure completion of the sanction and will be only full game/event suspensions.
¦ The event count will be solely determined by the schedule that is posted on the Ottawa University Athletics webpage (www.ottawabraves.com) provided by the Office of Sports Information at Ottawa University. If a potential discrepancy is present between known events and posted events, verbal communication shall occur with the Office of Sports Information to verify varsity event contests/games.
¦ Final number of varsity contests will be calculated no later than August 15 for fall sports, October 1 for winter sports and January 15 for spring sports.
¦ Cancelled/postponed contests do not count toards a student-athlete's current suspension. An event MUST occur, and become an official game, for a date of suspension to be counted.
¦ The suspension will begin with the next scheduled varsity contest and will be in effect for both regular season and post-season competition (e.g. exhibition contests, scrimmages, and/or non-traditional contests cannot be used to serve suspensions).
¦ The suspension will roll over to the next season of competition if necessary. If the positive drug test result occurs during the off-season, the suspension will be served during their next season of competition.
¦ If a student-athlete tests positive during a red-shirt year, the student’s suspension will begin during their next season of competition.
¦ If the student-athlete is a junior varsity/developmental player, the suspension will be served at that level of play. The suspension will be calculated utilizing the approved JV game schedule to calculate number of games to be served as a suspension. If a student-athlete is BOTH a varsity and JV player (as determined at the time of the violation and approved by the Director of Athletics in consultation with the head coach), the varsity schedule will be used to calculate the number of games to be served and the suspension will be served in succession between the upcoming JV and Varsity schedule to meet the suspension requirements.
¦ The student-athlete will be required to attend all team meetings, practices, and contests unless excused by the head coach, but may not engage in physical activity with the team for a minimum of two (2) weeks.
• The student-athlete will be referred to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and/or his/her designee and professional counselor. It is the responsibility of the student-athlete to make contact with the professional counselor within 48 hours of the official notification of a positive test. The student-athlete will be required to undergo a professional drug counseling assessment session(s) for the purposes of evaluation, education, and if necessary, further intervention and rehabilitation. The results of the counseling assessment will be provided to the head coach of the sport(s), Head Athletic Trainer, Associate Dean of Students, and the Director of Athletics. The first session with the professional counselor will be set-up within five (5) business days of contact from the student-athlete to begin the process. Failure to contact or comply with the professional counselor’s directions will be immediately reported to the director of athletics and head coach of the sport. As a consequence, the student-athlete will be removed indefinitely from all team activities. If a lack of follow-up continues as it relates to counseling requirements the student-athlete will be charged a second offense as it relates to this policy.
• The student-athlete will also be required to undergo re-entry testing and test negative prior to regaining eligibility. All costs of this additional testing will be charged to the student-athlete and must be paid for before eligibility is reinstated.
• The student-athlete will also be subject to follow-up testing for the remainder of their eligibility. This testing will be unannounced and will be required at the frequency determined by the Director of Athletics and/or his/her designee.
• The student-athlete will also be required to meet with the Dean of Student Affairs and/or his/her designee to be informed and comply with all sanctions outlined in the OUKS Student Code of Conduct policy.
• All costs associated with any counseling sessions and re-entry testing shall be the sole responsibility of the student-athlete.
Second Violation
• Upon notification of a second positive test result for a banned substance or other violation of the policy while enrolled at Ottawa University, the Director of Athletics will schedule a confidential meeting with the student-athlete, the head coach and full-time athletic trainer to inform them of the positive test result. The OUKS President and University Chancellor will be notified.
• The student-athlete will be required, in the presence of two of the following persons—Director of Athletics, head coach of the sport in which the student-athlete participates, or the full-time athletic trainer—to contact his or her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) by a telephone call. Text messaging will not be considered a viable form of communication in this situation. A written letter will also be sent by the Director of Athletics to inform the parent(s)/legal guardian(s).
• The student-athlete will be permanently suspended from participating in any sport at Ottawa University.
• The student-athlete will have his/her athletic financial aid permanently revoked effective the subsequent semester.
• A recommendation will be made that the student-athlete enrolls in an appropriate treatment program. The Department of Athletics will refer the student-athlete to the Dean of Student Affairs and/or his/her designee and professional counselor who will assist in coordinating the counseling services.
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