I diverge for a moment. But check this out, from ncaa.com:
"5.8 percent of Division II student-athletes tested showed positive for marijuana – much greater than the 1.5 percent positive rate in Division I and almost three times higher than the 2008-09 results for Division II. Many of the positives came from the early rounds of the Division II Men’s Basketball Championship. To determine if the outcome was an anomaly or a trend, the Management Council directed that the early rounds of the men’s basketball championship be tested again in 2011."
Likely a few guys on one team hit the bong before the tourney and skewed the results. (If 64 teams started the tourney with approximately 12 members each, 38 players equals 5 percent.) OK, more than a few, but hardly endemic.
Are there penalties for positive marijuana tests? The NCAA plans to ramp up its drug testing, which is likely aimed more at performance enhancers. I've never felt marijuana tests were relevant to endurance sports. Of course, I only knew of fellow biker racers -- not runners -- that broke any doping rules. And that didn't include use of pot.
that's interesting, I don't see why the NCAA tests for recreational drugs, that seems like an individual choice and not anything to do with fairness of the sport. My guess between D1 and D2 is that the D1 players know their gonna get tested and care more. I believe it is a 1 year suspension for a positive street drug test. It is worth noting that they were not drug testing at DII track nationals this year.
ReplyDeleteAnd marijuana is a prescription drug in some states, so if an NCAA athlete is using it legally for a condition, then can the NCAA punish them?