Oklahoma State's four-strike drug policy scrutinized in SI report
By KELLY HINES World Sports Writer on Sep 13, 2013, at 2:28 AM Updated on 9/13/13 at 7:18 AM
OSU football investigation
On Monday, Oklahoma State announced the hiring of Charles E. Smrt to lead an independent review of alleged misconduct in the OSU football program.
In Thursday's Sports Illustrated article that alleged widespread marijuana use within the Cowboy football program, Oklahoma State was designated as having "one of the nation's more lenient policies" on drugs.
According to the university's Drug Education and Testing Program, OSU athletes are allowed up to four positive drug tests before being dismissed from the team, but head coaches may impose stricter sanctions.
Last year, CBS Sports researched the substance-abuse policies of the 68 automatic qualifying BCS conference schools. Of the 60 schools whose policies were reported, a dozen joined OSU in having some sort of four-strike policy that resulted in dismissal.
Another 11 schools don't have explicit grounds for dismissal as part of their policy. Nine have a one-year suspension after a third or fourth strike, according to CBS Sports' research.
OSU is reportedly the only Big 12 school not to dismiss an athlete after three failed drug tests, with the exception of Oklahoma, which can reinstate three-strike expelled athletes after completion of a qualified drug-rehab program.
According to OSU's policies, all of its athletes are subject to year-round testing and are selected randomly or can be tested if an NCAA-banned substance is suspected.
After a positive drug test and each one following, the athlete must go through mandatory counseling. While in the counseling program, the next positive test won't count against the athlete if the drug levels drop, but an increase results in a second positive test. According to SI, it found similar clauses in only six of the 54 other BCS schools whose policies were posted online.
After a second positive at OSU, the athlete is required to be suspended immediately through 10 percent of regular-season competition. After the third positive test, it goes up to 50 percent.
The fourth positive test results in a permanent loss of eligibility, according to OSU's policy.
Kelly Hines 918-581-8452
kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: 'Lenient' four-strike drug policy scrutinized
OSU football investigation
On Monday, Oklahoma State announced the hiring of Charles E. Smrt to lead an independent review of alleged misconduct in the OSU football program.
