NWMSU Enacts New Drug Testing Policy for Student Athletes
By: Robert Lowrey
Updated: September 13, 2012
(MARYVILLE, Mo.) The sports played on the grounds at Northwest Missouri State University require skill and discipline.
Now, the university is hoping their student athletes can continue to strive without any problems.
"What we really hope to accomplish with this policy is to help student athletes make good choices," said Wren Baker, athletic director for NWMSU.
The university is instituting a new drug testing policy for all their student athletes.
Originally, only the NCAA would perform random drug tests.
Now, the university is doing some housekeeping with a policy that allows for them to perform random drugs tests.
"We looked at the national trend and that is that drug use and abuse is on the rise with college students," said Baker. "We started really looking at the possibility of a drug testing possibility within intercollegiate athletics."
It works like a three strikes program.
The first time a student athlete is caught, they will be sent to treatment with school faculty and required to do community service.
The second strike against a student includes treatment and service as well as a suspension for ten percent of the athlete's season.
The third time would result in a an indefinite suspension of a year or more.
"We really built it around education and rehabilitation and the most successful policies nationally are built that way," said Baker.
The university is hoping to give young students the help they need should they get into trouble, as opposed to the NCAA policy more guided toward punitive measures.
"We know this is national epidemic and we owe it our student athletes to help them if they have a problem and beat that and go on to be productive citizens," said Baker.
Now, the university is hoping their student athletes can continue to strive without any problems.
"What we really hope to accomplish with this policy is to help student athletes make good choices," said Wren Baker, athletic director for NWMSU.
The university is instituting a new drug testing policy for all their student athletes.
Originally, only the NCAA would perform random drug tests.
Now, the university is doing some housekeeping with a policy that allows for them to perform random drugs tests.
"We looked at the national trend and that is that drug use and abuse is on the rise with college students," said Baker. "We started really looking at the possibility of a drug testing possibility within intercollegiate athletics."
It works like a three strikes program.
The first time a student athlete is caught, they will be sent to treatment with school faculty and required to do community service.
The second strike against a student includes treatment and service as well as a suspension for ten percent of the athlete's season.
The third time would result in a an indefinite suspension of a year or more.
"We really built it around education and rehabilitation and the most successful policies nationally are built that way," said Baker.
The university is hoping to give young students the help they need should they get into trouble, as opposed to the NCAA policy more guided toward punitive measures.
"We know this is national epidemic and we owe it our student athletes to help them if they have a problem and beat that and go on to be productive citizens," said Baker.
