NCAA Student-Athlete Drug Testing Best Practices Guide

NCAA drug testing violations carry significant consequences—violations can result in loss of eligibility and competition withholding periods that vary by substance category and offense history, potentially impacting careers and scholarship status. This guide provides athletic directors and compliance officers with the exact protocols DSC uses to administer NCAA-compliant testing programs for 50+ collegiate programs with zero procedural challenges and 100% on-time result delivery for championship events.

The 22-page guide covers year-round testing requirements, banned substance categories, championship protocols, MRO coordination, and education program implementation that satisfies NCAA Bylaw 12 and 14 requirements.

Use this guide to implement testing programs that protect athlete welfare, preserve team standing, and defend institutional reputation during NCAA compliance reviews. Includes sample education presentations, TUE request templates, and appeals documentation checklists used by Division I athletic departments.

• Year-round vs championship testing windows: When anabolic steroid and peptide hormone testing is permitted versus when stimulant and recreational drug testing is restricted to competition periods
• Banned substance categories and policy updates: Current NCAA Drug-Testing Manual classifications including recent cannabis policy changes (removed from the NCAA banned substance list at the national level in January 2024)
• 24-48 hour result turnaround requirements: Laboratory partnerships and MRO coordination that deliver verified results before eligibility determination deadlines
• Appeals-ready chain-of-custody procedures: Collection documentation and specimen handling that withstands NCAA appeals committees and legal challenges
• Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) coordination: Procedures for athletes with medically necessary banned substance use (ADHD medications, asthma inhalers)
• Education program implementation: NCAA Bylaw 12 and 14 compliance training covering supplement risks, inadvertent violations, and policy acknowledgments
• Penalty and consequence frameworks: Understanding eligibility loss calculations, scholarship implications, and professional career impacts