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Chemical Health Rule of the MIAA (Rule #62) During the season of practice or play, a student shall not, regardless of the quantity, use, consume, possess, buy/sell, or give away any beverage containing alcohol; any tobacco product; marijuana; steroids, or any controlled substance. It is not a violation for a student to be in possession of a legally defined drug specifically prescribed for the student's own use by his/her doctor. Member schools are alerted that this rule represents only a minimum standard upon which schools could develop more stringent requirements. This MIAA statewide minimum standard is not intended to be interpreted as guilt by association. Example: All student athletes who were present at a party where a few violated the standard. Please Note: If a student in violation of Rule 71.1 is unable to participate in interscholastic sports due to injury, academics, or otherwise, the penalty will not take effect until that student is able to participate again. The
minimum PENALTIES are: When
the principal confirms, following an opportunity for the student to be heard, that a
violation occurred, the student shall lose eligibility for the next two consecutive
interscholastic events, or two weeks of a season in which the student is a participant,
whichever encompasses the greater number of contests. No exception is permitted for a
student who becomes a participant in a treatment program. It is recommended that the
student be allowed to remain at practice for the purpose of rehabilitation. When the principal confirms, following an opportunity for the student to be heard, that a second or subsequent violations have occurred, the student shall lose eligibility for the next 12 consecutive interscholastic events or 12 consecutive weeks, whichever encompasses the greater number of contests in which the student is a participant. If after the second or subsequent violations the student of his/her own volition becomes a participant in an approved chemical dependency program or treatment program, the student may be certified for reinstatement in MIAA activities after a minimum period of six (6) weeks or six (6) contests, whichever penalty is greater. Such certification must be issued by the director or a counselor of a chemical dependency treatment center. Penalties shall be cumulative each academic year, but a penalty period will extend into the next academic year, (e.g. if the penalty period is not completed during the season of violation, the penalty shall carry over to the student's next season of actual participation, which may affect the eligibility status of the student during the next academic year). During
practice or competition, a coach shall not use any tobacco product. Anabolic androgenic steroid use at the high school level is of grave concern. Steroids are used by some athletes in sports, and the seriousness of the problem has been well documented. A recent study indicated that more than 6 percent of high school seniors use steroids. About two-thirds of these seniors tried steroids before the age of 16. High School coaches may not be able to prevent the use of steroids altogether, but they can clearly and forcefully discourage their use. Coaches should take a proactive role. First, they should learn about steroids, what they do and what they will not do. They should then provide this information for their athletes. Steroids can, with proper diet and weight training, increase muscle development; however, as is typical with most get-rich-quick schemes, steroid use has serious short- and long term consequences that must be addressed. Normal and equal musculature development can occur without steroid use. Although the natural process takes longer, muscle tone will last longer and does not carry the harmful side effects of steroids. Most coaches would not promote steroid use intentionally. Total silence by coaches, however, condones use in some young people's minds. Even though steroids may not be mentioned when it is suggested to an athlete that his/her success is limited only by a lack of weight and/or strength, without a disclaimer the statement can be a motivation for steroids. The pervasiveness of the drugs that allow for development of increased weight under the aforementioned circumstances is a coercive power that is difficult for the individual to resist without knowing what the side effects of the drugs may be. The issue goes beyond protecting the integrity of your sport. The use of
steroids in sports in considered to be cheating. We stand opposed to the use of steroids
by athletes and all members of the student body because of health and ethical concerns. |