Prepare to be Tested!
A look at the new New Jersey state drug testing policy and how to be safe
By John Nepolitan
One of the major track and field stories of the summer has been the positive drug test of Olympic 100 meter champion Justin Gatlin for testosterone. As the 2006-07 school year starts in New Jersey, drug testing will once again become a major issue as the state Athletic Association (NJSIAA) will begin testing athletes for banned substances. In accordance with Executive Order 72, issued by the New Jersey Governor Richard J. Codey on December 20, 2005, the NJSIAA will test a random selection of student athletes who have qualified for state championships. The following are some major points of the NJSIAA Steroid Testing Policy:
The major issue regards what exactly is on the banned substance list? An investigation resulted in some very interesting findings. In an effort to determine just what is on the banned substance list, I took the list of substances the NJSIAA will be testing for to my family doctor – who was fast to suggest that I contact a pharmacist and a certified athletic trainer for help. It seems that doctors know what to prescribe to help a patient, but are not very clear on what those medications are truly composed of. Following the advice of a man who has never steered me wrong, I visited my local pharmacy and, after a short talk, was shocked to find the following commonly used items are among the banned substances:
Listed as on NJSIAA List Common name
Amohetamine Adderall
Methylphenidate Ritalin
Also included on the list were items that could show up in many over-the-counter cold medications. To find additional information from a source who has to deal with the testing of athletes, a visit to Tim Kelly, head athletic trainer at the United States Military Academy at West Point was in order. There were surprising results. Mr. Kelly was able to confirm that both Ritalin and Adderall are both on the list of banned items under their true names, but what about other major issues? Mr. Kelly provided the following information:
Over the counter cold medications: Synephrine, on the banned list, is found in most over the counter cold medications.
Suggestion – with the NJSIAA list in hand, check with your doctor and pharmacist to be sure that there are no banned items in the medication you wish to take. Do not self medicate – be sure to get a doctors prescription for everything you take.
Nutritional/dietary supplements purchased at stores like GNC: First of all, the NJSIAA warns:
“Many nutritional/dietary supplements contain NJSIAA banned substances. In addition, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not strictly regulate the supplement industry; therefore purity and safety of nutritional dietary supplements cannot be guaranteed. Impure supplements may lead to a positive NJSIAA drug test. The use of supplements is at the student-athlete’s own risk. Student-athletes should contact their physician or athletic trainer for further information.”
As Mr. Kelly also pointed out the FDA does not regulate the supplements and, as a result, you cannot be 100% sure what they include. After problems with ephedrine found in such supplements a few summers ago, the government has banned its use. The companies who manufacture supplements have replaced ephedrine with guarana and citrus aurantium, both on the banned list. Also a lab at UCLA recently took 13 different supplements and tested them to determine exactly what they were composed of. Eight of the 13 contained substances not even listed among the ingredients, while 2 ended up containing hormones that would have resulted in a positive test. This is the reason why many of those who do test positive don’t understand how it can happen when they were “only taking a supplement.” Many supplements contain more than what they show.
Suggestion – Do not take any over-the-counter Nutritional/dietary supplements.
Topical solutions – Many of the items you can purchase from your local drug store can be rubbed in to help with rashes and other ailments. This topicals each have different strength and as a result could result in a positive test if they contain a banned substance.
Suggestion – Since the only way to clear yourself if you test positive is proof of a doctor’s prescription, make sure that any medication you use is documented with your school nurse. Once again do not self medicate – ignorance or the “I did not know defense” will not be enough to clear yourself.
Energy drinks – Popular today are drinks like Red Bull. Alone, one can of such drinks will not carry enough caffeine to result in a positive test. But since each person has a different metabolism (an 110 lbs female cross country girl’s body will process items differently than a 250 lbs football player) and other factors (what else you have eaten that day) will effect the test results and could result in a positive test.
Suggestion: Stay away from such drinks. If these are what you need to feel ready for your race you and your coach should take a look at recent training.
Method of testing, confidentiality, penalty and appeals – The most common method of test, used by the NCAA, USATF and IAAF, is a simple urine test. The method of testing to be used by the NJSIAA has yet to be determined since a testing company has not been selected as of August 1st.
How USATF and IAAF tests its athletes following competitions is to select the athlete immediately following the race. The athlete is then escorted to a testing area where, in the presence of a member of the testing team, a urine sample is provided. The sample, in front of the athlete, is divided into an “A” and “B” sample and sealed with a label containing a number (no name is used on the sample so that the person who will later test the sample has no idea whose sample they are working on). The athlete then fills out a form with that seal number so the results of that sample can be traced back to the exact athlete.
If the “A” sample is negative for banned substances, the testing stops. If the “A” test comes back positive, the “B” is then tested. If both the “A” and “B” show a positive then the athlete will face a possible ban, which in New Jersey means one year. If the “B” comes back negative, the “A” positive is considered a mistake and the athlete will face no penalty. In all cases the NJSIAA’s policy states “Results of all tests shall be considered confidential and shall only be disclosed to the individual, his or her parents and his or her school”.
In the event of a positive test result the NJSIAA will have an appeal process which states, “If the certified laboratory reports that a student-athlete’s sample has tested positive, and the medical review officer confirms that there is no medical reason for a positive result, a penalty shall be imposed unless the student-athlete proves, by a preponderance of the evidence, that he or she bears no fault or negligence for the violation. Appeals shall be heard by a NJSIAA committee consisting of two members of the Executive Committee, the Executive Director/designee, a trainer and a physician. Appeal of a decision of the Committee shall be to the Commissioner of Education, for public school athletes, and to the superior court, for non-public athletes. Hearings shall be held in accordance with NJSIAA By-Laws, Article XIII, “Hearing Procedure.”
It should be noted that New Jersey is taking the lead in trying to solve a problem that many fail to recognize exists, the taking of performance enhancing substances by student/athletes. Athletes in New Jersey high schools have entered a new era, the era of drug testing. To protect themselves athletes and their parents should be sure that any and all medications taken, both those prescribed by a doctor and purchased over the counter, do not contain any banned substances. If the medications do contain banned items, before taken make sure it is documented in the school nurses office that you have a doctor’s permission prior to taking it. This way if the athlete is selected for testing and the results come back with a positive result there is documentation already in place to prove your innocence.
The NJSIAA Banned Substance List
Banned-drug classes, with examples of banned substances under each class:
(a) Stimulants (b) Anabolic Agents (c) Diuretics (d) Peptide Hormones & Analogues:
amiphenazole anabolic steroids acetazolamide corticotrophin (ACTH)
amphetamine androstenediol bendroflumethiazide human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)
bemigride androstenedione benzhiazide leutenizing hormone (LH)
benzphetamine boldenone bumetanide growth hormone (HGH, somatotrophin)
bromantan clostebol chlorothiazide insulin like growth hormone (IGF-1)
caffeine1 (guorana) dehydrochlormethyl- chlorthalidone
chlorphentermine testosterone ethacrynic acid All the respective releasing factors
cocaine dehydroepiandro- flumethiazide of the above-mentioned substances
cropropamide sterone (DHEA) furosemide also are banned:
crothetamide dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hydrochlorothiazide erythropoietin (EPO)
diethylpropion dromostanolone hydroflumenthiazide darbypoetin
dimethylamphetamine epitrenbolone methyclothiazide sermorelin
doxapram fluoxymesterone metolazone
ephedrine gestrinone polythiazide
(ephedra, ma huang) mesterolone quinethazone
ethamivan methandienone spironolactone
ethylamphetamine methenolone triamterene
fencamfamine trichlormethiazide
meclofenoxate and related compounds
methamphetamine methyltestosterone
methylenedioxymethamphetamine nandrolone
(MDMA, ecstasy) norandrostenediol
methylphenidate norandrostenedione
nikethamide norethandrolone (e) Definitions of positive depends on the following:
pemoline oxandrolone 1 for caffeine – if the concentration in urine exceeds 15 micrograms/ml
pentetrazol oxymesterone
phendimetrazine oxymetholone 2 for testosterone – if administration of testosterone or use of any other
phenmetrazine pregnelone manipulation has the result of increasing the ratio of the total
phentermine stanozolol concentration of testosterone to that of epitestosterone in the urine
phenylpropanolamine (ppa) testosterone2 of greater than 6:1, unless there is evidence that this ratio is due to a
picrotoxine tetrahydrogestrinone physiological or pathological condition.
pipradol (THG)
prolintane trenbolone
strychnine and related compounds
synephrine other anabolic agents
(citrus aurantium, zhi shi, bitter clenbuterol
orange)
and related compounds