NCAA institutionally based drug testing: do our athletes know the rules of this game?

Abstract

One aspect of the current drug-testing controversy that has gone relatively unexamined concerns the extent to which student-athletes are fully informed of the testing procedures employed by their institution. College athletes (N = 2,282) participating at 11 NCAA-affiliated institutions nationwide were surveyed as to their awareness of their school's drug-testing program. Results indicate athletes have numerous misconceptions regarding the drug testing to which they may be subjected. Over one-third of the athletes attending "testing" institutions were oblivious to the fact their school was engaged in drug-testing, and more than 70% were unable to correctly identify their school's drug-testing protocol. Implications of such ignorance are discussed.