Criteria for Reasonable Suspicion Drug-testing

The following criteria shall be applied (but not necessarily restricted to) the following observable behavioral changes in the athlete’s habits, appearance, demeanor and/or athletic performance.

• Marked observable and not otherwise satisfactorily explained changes in the athlete’s personal hygiene.
• Sudden documented and not otherwise satisfactorily explained commencement of repeated tardiness or absences from team practices, conditioning, team meetings or games after setting a general pattern of promptness and attentiveness.
• Sudden, consistent and not otherwise satisfactorily explained drop-off of the athlete’s levels of energy and athletic skills performance based upon previously set standards for the individual athlete, as observed and assessed by the coaches.
• Sudden and not otherwise satisfactorily explained decline in school grades, class attendance or punctuality as observed, reported and/or confirmed by the athlete’s classroom instructor(s).
• Sustained, repeated and not otherwise satisfactorily explained commencement of specifically documented “out of character” behaviors as observed and corroborated by the coaches, team mates, classmates, instructors, parents or others who regularly know and observe the athlete.
• Repeated observations of significant changes in the known regular social associates and/or habits of the athlete.

When a team mate of the athlete or another non-coach wishes to bring possible suspected drug abuse to the attention of the head coach or head athletic trainer, the person or persons must be willing to write out the reasons for their suspicion based upon the above outlined criteria and sign and date the document.

Specific criteria for reasonable suspicion of the abuse of anabolic steroids

1. Sudden and not otherwise reasonably explained gain of body mass and strength over and beyond that which might generally be considered within recognized norms for gains expected through the athlete’s adherence to a well-planned resistance and dietary training program, while at the same time considering the athlete’s age, sex, body type, and previous training history.

2. Additional signs of probable anabolic steroid abuse include one or several of the following, especially in conjunction with the above:

• Male pattern baldness
• Male hirsuteness in females
• Acne
• Voice deepening
• Mood swings
• Aggressive behavior
• Gynecomastia
• Reduction in the size of a testicle
• Changes in libido

When a coach requests reasonable suspicion testing for an athlete, the coach must sign and date a request form. The coach will be required to list, in detail, his or her observed reasons for suspicion of drug abuse in the case of this specific athlete. When possible, dates and times should also be documented. The coach will then turn in to the head athletic trainer the completed request form.

The final decision to test on suspicion shall be at the complete discretion of the head athletic trainer (and his or her expert consultants, if desired), based upon the coach’s detailed written request, the head athletic trainer’s professional judgment and any additional information the head athletic trainer might gather as part of his or her consultations and investigation.