RADNOR, PA – In cooperation with the NCAA and Drug Free Sport, the nation's leader in sport drug testing services and exclusive testing service for the NCAA championships, Cabrini University will begin drug testing of student-athletes in January 2017.

"This partnership with Drug Free Sport will allow us to provide a comprehensive drug education and testing program and reinforce our care for student-athletes that are making unhealthy decisions," said Brad Koch, Cabrini Director of Athletics and Recreation.

Along with members of the Cabrini Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Cabrini's athletic administration has developed a testing policy that includes random testing and education throughout the year.

The purpose of the program is to protect the health and wellness of student-athletes and to promote a drug-free athletic environment through prevention and education programs, drug testing and appropriate treatment and response.

"As Cabrini student-athletes, we are held at a higher standard and I fully support this pivotal moment in our history," said men's lacrosse senior and SAAC representative Steve Halko.  "The policy is put in place to reinforce good choices but also to help those in need.

"Unfortunately, I lost a good friend and teammate to the terrible disease of addition and I will devote my time to make sure no one else has a similar experience."

At the beginning of each academic year or at other times as determined by the Athletic Department, a presentation will be made to all intercollegiate student-athletes to review and explain drug testing policy and procedure. The consent forms will be signed at that time and available in each student-athletes file.

Drug Free Sport will randomly select student-athletes for testing based on rosters of all athletic teams, in or out of season. The randomly selected student-athletes will be required to provide a urine sample under the strict supervision of personnel selected by the Director of Athletics.  

The sample will be analyzed by Drug Free Sport for the presence of banned substances (at or below the levels banned by the NCAA) and may include, but are not limited to:
•    Amphetamine/Methamphetamine
•    Cocaine
•    Marijuana
•    Ecstasy (MDMA)
•    Opiates
•    PCP
•    Barbiturates
•    Benzodiazepines
•    Oxycodone (incl. OxyContin)
•    Methylphenidate (incl. Ritalin)
•    Synthetic Cannabinoids (K2, Spice, etc.)
•    Bath Salts (Synthetic stimulants)
•    Methylhexanamine (DMAA)
•    Anabolic Steroids
•    Performance-Enhancing Substances
•    Other drugs at the discretion of the Department of Athletics
 
Student-athletes failing a first test will be suspended from seven days of activity during their traditional seasons, must attend mandatory counseling sessions and be automatically included in the next testing session.

With a second positive test during the student-athlete's career at Cabrini, he/she will be suspended for 15% of his/her games or competitions, while a third positive test will result on the suspension from the team for one calendar year.

A student-athlete who has four positive tests during his/her athletics career at Cabrini will be immediately and permanently dismissed from all teams on which the student-athlete participates and be ineligible for any future intercollegiate athletic participation.

The new Cabrini drug testing policy is in addition to the NCAA Drug Testing Policy (Form 16-3f), which all student-athletes are required to sign, permitting the NCAA to test all participants in NCAA championships.