Dubious drug testing

Eight student athletes from a random Santa Clara NCAA sport will be drug tested this year. However, it is questionable whether these testing processes are inherently flawed.

Though rare, over-the-counter drugs, such as Advil or Nyquil, contain chemicals that can cause an athlete to test positive. This contradicts the purpose of the testing process, which is to detect use of illegal substances such as steroids or marijuana.

Athletes are notified 48 hours before the testing. One would assume that any athlete guilty of using marijuana wouldn't be able to avoid a positive result. However, there are products sold at nutritional centers, such as "Herbal Clean," a 24- to 48-hour beverage that helps expel toxins from the body. Though never stated on any product label, it's clear that the generalized term "toxin" would include marijuana. Obviously, products like these would improve chances of eluding detection. Assistant Director of Sports Medicine Scott Heinrichson says this has been an ongoing issue since drug testing started, and is a reason why the system could always be better.

Heinrichson says it's feasible for an athlete to test above the acceptable level for caffeine should an athlete drink eight to nine cups of coffee the day of the testing. Clearly this is an extreme, but it proves that results can be skewed. Caffeine and testosterone are two tests in which the athlete is only in violation for results when they test above a certain plateau. This means a potential drug-test taker might be able to get away with taking small amounts of Androstenedione, a banned substance that elevates the body's testosterone levels. Heinrichson equates taking this type of risk to playing roulette.

If the athlete's results come back positive, they are granted a retest before any punishment is handed. Ultimately, whether the results turn up ambiguous or are masked, it's hard to believe that the new drug testing system will be the solution for substance abuse.