INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NCAA panel has proposed a significant revision to the organization’s banned substances list by recommending the removal of marijuana and limiting drug testing to focus solely on performance-enhancing substances.
On Friday, the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports unveiled the proposal, signaling a potential shift in the NCAA’s longstanding drug testing policy. Since 1986, the NCAA has been conducting drug tests during championship events. However, the committee members advised suspending cannabis testing at these events until a final decision is reached, expected to be made in the coming autumn.
For the proposal to take effect, it would require the introduction and approval of legislation by all three NCAA divisions. Division II and III administrators had specifically requested the committee to examine the issue.
This recommendation coincides with the increasing acceptance of medical or recreational marijuana use across several states in the United States.
Earlier this year, the committee already made adjustments by raising the THC threshold necessary for a positive test and suggesting revised penalties for athletes. The new threshold for THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana, was elevated from 35 to 150 nanograms per milliliter, aligning it with the standards set by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Last December, the committee acknowledged that marijuana and its derivatives do not possess performance-enhancing properties. Consequently, instead of focusing on punitive measures for cannabis use, the panel recommended emphasizing policies that address the potential risks associated with marijuana usage and the importance of reducing harm and consumption of cannabis products.
Additionally, the committee proposed that schools that conduct drug testing utilize the results to identify instances of “problematic” cannabis use. Furthermore, the committee expressed the intention to provide schools with additional guidelines concerning cannabis.
In a separate proposal, the committee suggested establishing a trace level threshold of 0.1 nanograms per milliliter for the hormone GW1516. This measure aims to prevent 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.
