LOGIN

NCAA committee recommends dropping marijuana from banned drug list for athletes

by Lucas Garcia
5 comments
marijuana legalization

NCAA Committee Suggests Removing Marijuana from List of Banned Substances for Athletes

A committee within the NCAA has put forth a recommendation to eliminate marijuana from the organization’s prohibited drug list, proposing that drug testing should focus solely on performance-enhancing substances.

The proposal, released on Friday by the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports, represents a significant shift for the NCAA, which has conducted drug tests at championship events since 1986. Committee members advised ceasing cannabis testing at such events until a final decision is reached, expected in the fall.

For the recommendation to take effect, legislation would need to be introduced and approved by all three NCAA divisions. Administrators from Divisions II and III had requested that the committee examine this issue.

This suggestion coincides with the increasing number of states in the United States that permit medical or recreational marijuana use.

Earlier this year, the committee raised the threshold for a positive test regarding THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana, and proposed revised penalties for athletes. The THC threshold was raised from 35 to 150 nanograms per milliliter, aligning it with the standards set by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

In December of the previous year, the committee acknowledged that marijuana and its derivatives are not considered substances that enhance performance. Rather than focusing on penalties for cannabis use, the panel recommended prioritizing policies that address the potential risks associated with marijuana use and the need to minimize harm and cannabis product consumption.

Additionally, it suggested that schools utilizing drug tests leverage the results to identify instances of “problematic” marijuana use. The committee also intends to furnish schools with supplementary guidelines concerning cannabis.

Separately, the committee proposed establishing a trace level threshold of 0.1 nanograms per milliliter for the hormone GW1516, aimed at preventing athletes from becoming ineligible due to unintentional ingestion of the substance through contaminated supplements.

Originally developed for diabetes treatment, GW1516 was discontinued in 2007 and has been linked to positive doping tests in endurance-related sports.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about marijuana legalization

What is the NCAA committee recommending regarding marijuana use for athletes?

The NCAA committee is recommending the removal of marijuana from the organization’s list of banned drugs. They suggest limiting drug testing to focus on performance-enhancing substances instead.

Is the NCAA planning to stop cannabis testing at championship events?

According to the committee’s proposal, cannabis testing at championship events would be halted until a final decision is made, which is likely to happen in the fall.

What needs to happen for the NCAA committee’s recommendation to take effect?

For the recommendation to become effective, legislation would have to be introduced and approved by all three NCAA divisions.

What was the reason behind the NCAA committee’s recommendation?

The recommendation comes as more states in the U.S. are legalizing medical or recreational marijuana use. The committee acknowledged that marijuana and its byproducts are not considered performance-enhancing substances.

Did the committee suggest any changes to the penalties for marijuana use?

Yes, the committee proposed revised penalties and increased the threshold for a positive THC test from 35 to 150 nanograms per milliliter, aligning it with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s standards.

Apart from penalties, what other suggestions did the committee make?

The committee emphasized the need to focus on policies that address the potential risks associated with marijuana use and reducing harm. They also recommended utilizing drug test results to identify problematic cannabis use and providing schools with additional guidelines on cannabis.

Did the committee propose any other threshold for substances other than marijuana?

Yes, the committee proposed setting a trace level threshold of 0.1 nanograms per milliliter for the hormone GW1516 to prevent athletes from unintentionally ingesting it through contaminated supplements. GW1516 has been linked to positive doping tests in endurance-related sports.

More about marijuana legalization

You may also like

5 comments

SportsFanatic23 June 17, 2023 - 5:38 am

finally, NCAA committee suggest droppin marijuana frm banned list! It’s abt time dey catch up wit da times. Legalization is sweepin across states, so it makes sense. Let athletes focus on their game, not on bein punished for a lil pot!

Reply
FitLifeCoach June 17, 2023 - 10:53 am

NCAA committee makin waves by recommendin removal of marijuana from banned substances. Finally recognizin it ain’t a performance enhancer! But hey, let’s make sure athletes stay responsible n safe with cannabis use. Education n guidelines are key!

Reply
HoopDreamer June 17, 2023 - 3:41 pm

NCAA committee sayin no more marijuana testin at championships? Bout time, man! Legal weed is on da rise, so why punish athletes for usin it? Let ’em smoke if dey wanna, long as it don’t help ’em cheat. Let’s see if dis recommendation actually goes anywhere tho.

Reply
SoccerMom32 June 17, 2023 - 8:49 pm

Oh wow, NCAA committee actually considerin droppin marijuana from banned list? As a mom, I have mixed feelings. But hey, times are changin n more states allowin it. Let’s see if this goes through n what impact it has on athletes n sports.

Reply
Jane88 June 17, 2023 - 10:35 pm

ncaa committee recommend dropin marijuana frm banned drug list 4 athletes, bout time! dey focus on perform-enhancin stuff instead, ya kno? #LegalizeIt

Reply

Leave a Comment

BNB – Big Big News is a news portal that offers the latest news from around the world. BNB – Big Big News focuses on providing readers with the most up-to-date information from the U.S. and abroad, covering a wide range of topics, including politics, sports, entertainment, business, health, and more.

Editors' Picks

Latest News