The NCAA announced important news on Friday regarding its THC testing policies.
In a press releasethe NCAA announced that this week’s meeting of the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports resulted in increased THC thresholds for college athletes.
Starting from the thresholds put in place by the World Anti-Doping Agency, the committee agreed to increase the amount from 35 to 150 nanograms per millilitre, if a student tests positive for having THC in their system.
“Reconsidering the NCAA’s approach to cannabis testing and management is consistent with member feedback on how to better support and educate student-athletes in a society where public health and cultural views of cannabis use of cannabis are evolving rapidly”, said NCAA chief medical officer Dr. Brian Hainline. “Marijuana is not considered a performance-enhancing substance, but it remains important for member schools to engage student-athletes in substance use prevention and provide management and support where appropriate. “
The committee also proposed a new penalty structure for college athletes who test positive for THC in NCAA doping tests.
If the student tests positive, then there is “no loss of eligibility if the school provides a management plan and education to the student-athlete.” A second positive test has the same result, except with the consequence of missing 25% of regular season games if they have not previously followed the management plan. Then, a third positive test follows the same rules, but the student would be bound to miss 50% of regular-season competitions if they didn’t follow their school’s management plan.
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