Doane College is planning to introduce a drug testing policy for its student-athletes, says athletic director Greg Heier.
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) does not have in place a drug testing policy. Instead, it helps each of its 258 member schools to determine what type of drug testing policy to setup for its student-athletes.
Only three of the 11 schools in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) test their student-athletes for performance enhancing drugs - Briar Cliff University, Dordt College and Mount Marty College.
The drug testing policy, if implemented, could generate protests from student-athletes who take supplements like creatine and caffeine based products.
These kinds of supplements aren't illegal but can contain banned performance enhancing chemicals without the athlete's knowledge.
As a result, while introducing this policy, the college officials must determine what drugs are and aren't illegal in order to prevent any confusion.
"Whatever policy you have has to me give fair warning to athletes that 'this is a banned substance or it's not' and that's currently a major problem because it's like the cheaters are ahead of the policy," Heier said.
Currently, the college educates its students-athletes on the risks and rewards of supplements and drugs.
Doane College athletic teams, known as Tigers, are members of NAIA and primarily participate in GPAC.
The Tigers' Men's sports comprises of baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field and wrestling, while women's sports feature basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross-country, dance, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.