PASSING GRADES: NIACC HAS ONLY ONE FAILED DRUG TEST IN 29 TESTS

MASON CITY -- Ryan McGuire didn't have any illusions of perfection when
NIACC first implemented a random drug testing policy for its student-athletes.

But after the first two rounds of drug tests, NIACC came close.

The Trojans randomly tested 29 athletes during the first academic semester.
Only one test came up positive.

"It's always disappointing to see an athlete test positive, but we have to
be realistic," said McGuire, NIACC's athletic director. "One out of 29 is a
number that is somewhat acceptable, but with the way things are in society,
one out of 29 is not a huge shock to our system."

The Policy

NIACC is the home of more than 200 student-athletes.

In accordance to the school's drug policy that was implemented at the
beginning of the 2004-05 academic year, 20 percent of the student-athlete
population will be tested for drugs.

Also, if an athlete displays symptoms that lead to a reasonable suspicion
- -- irritability, anger management issues, sporadic performance -- the
athlete could be subjected to a test.

Thus far, McGuire said, no student-athlete has been asked to take a test
outside of the standard random system.

The first round of testing was completed in mid-October, while the second
round of testing was wrapped up middle of December.

The student-athletes are tested for illegal drugs (marijuana, cocaine,
amphetamines and others), the misuse of over-the-counter drugs, forged
prescription drugs and any legally obtained drug including alcohol.

"I'd like to think that when we sat down with our 200-plus athletes in
August and educated them on what we were going to do, it had an impact,"
McGuire said. "I think they were surprised."

The Drug Test

A woman waited outside of one of Brett Cooper's classes to speak with him.
She told the NIACC baseball player that he had to go to the athletic office
after class and take a van ride over to the Mercy Chelsea Creek campus for
a random drug test.

"It was crazy," said Cooper, who passed the test. "I didn't expect that to
happen."

Once the student-athlete is notified of their selection, he or she has only
one hour to report to HealthWorks, the Cheslea Creek facility of the North
Iowa Mercy Health Center.

"We don't want to be predictable," McGuire said. "We want an element of
surprise or else it will lose its effectiveness. They know it could come at
anytime."

The athlete must take a urine test as well as a breath-alcohol test.

Failure to report is considered a failed test. An athlete must give an
adequate excuse to why he or she cannot make the test beforehand.

"We had a couple that had a commitment and couldn't attend," McGuire said.
"We try to be a little flexible, but we can't start taking excuses. That
could set us up for problems. That's not a situation we want to get into."

The Penalty

A failed test means the student-athlete must serve at least a one-game
suspension or the equivalent of 10 percent of his or her team's games.

Before returning to the team, the student-athlete must first pass a drug
test and must undergo counseling from a certified substance abuse professional.

Failure to adhere to any of these guidelines will result in the loss of
their athletic scholarship and their spot on the team.

A second failed test will also lead to permanent suspension and the loss of
their athletic scholarship.

"I think testing is a good thing," Cooper said. "I want to know my
teammates are clean and that I can trust them. But I don't think drugs are
a problem at NIACC."