Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Here’s how W&M and CNU handle drug testing student-athletes

Elon scored the game's final nine points to rally past William & Mary, 76-71, on Saturday afternoon at Kaplan Arena. (WYDaily/Courtesy Tribe Athletics)
Elon scored the game’s final nine points to rally past William & Mary, 76-71, on Saturday afternoon at Kaplan Arena. (WYDaily/Courtesy Tribe Athletics)

At the College of William & Mary and Christopher Newport University, each school has different drug policies regarding the student population ––– including student-athletes.

Recently, Nate Evans, a Tribe football player, was killed in what authorities believe to be a drug transaction in Norfolk, and it is unclear if Evans ever tested positive for drug use.

RELATED STORY: WM football player went to Norfolk for a drug transaction when he was shot to death, court documents say

College of William & Mary

“Every sport is ensured to be tested at least once per year by WM Athletics,” Pete Clawson, spokesman for the athletics department, wrote in an email.

Clawson added at least 10 percent of student-athletes from each team will be tested during the school year.

Students in the university’s Safe Harbor program are exempt from random tests.

Lynn Bañeza, clinical director for Bacon Street, said the organization randomly selects the students and test them in the university’s athletic facilities.

If a student tested positive, W&M decides whether to have the student re-tested, to test the student at Bacon Street or to handle the positive test internally. And if there is a suspicion or cause of drug related activity, the university can also test the entire team and the coaching staff during the on and off seasons, Bañeza said.

There are first, second and third offenses and students have a right to appeal the decision.

WYDaily asked Bacon Street for the number of student-athletes tested in the 2018-2019 school year and the number of student-athletes who tested positive. Bacon Street did not respond to multiple attempts for comment.

Christopher Newport University

  • Athletic division: Division III
  • Test provider: Drug Free Sport
  • Drug tests per year: 2

At Christopher Newport University, all students follow the same drug policy outlined in the college’s student handbook.

If a student is accused of using drugs, he or she must follow the university’s procedure which involves a hearing panel in front of the Student Honor Council.
“Consequences depend on the severity of the violation including the use and or sale of marijuana,” Jim Hanchett, spokesman for CNU, wrote in an email. “They can range from educational, developmental, community based sanctions to in rare cases involving sales, suspension or dismissal.
Hanchett added university police can pursue a legal route as well and if a student is found to have lied about the drug related violation, he or she would have a combined hearing panel for violating the Student Code of Conduct and the Honor Code.
WYDaily asked CNU if student-athletes were tested on or off campus and Hanchett said in an email he did not know nor would he elaborate on the number of students who tested positive.
Julia Marsigliano
Julia Marsiglianohttp://wydaily.com
Julia Marsigliano is a multimedia reporter for WYDaily. She covers everything on the Peninsula from local government and law enforcement agencies to family-run businesses and weather updates. Before WYDaily, she covered Hampton and Newport News for WYDaily’s sister publication, HNNDaily before both publications merged in December 2018. Julia was born in Tokyo, Japan and moved to Long Island, New York in 2001. A true New Yorker, she loves pizza, bagels and good Chinese food. Send comments, tips and other tidbits to julia@localvoicemedia.com. You can follow her on Twitter at @jmarsigliano

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