Report: Drug testing at Texas has increased dramatically under Charlie Strong
Since Charlie Strong was hired to coach the University of Texas football team, nine players who were recruited by former head coach Mack Brown have been dismissed for violating team rules.
Strong holds a reputation as a no-nonsense kind of guy, so when he was hired anyone who followed the situation knew things would change in Austin. According to a report from the Austin American-Statesman, one of the things that has changed drastically is the number of drug tests administered to Texas football players.
The paper obtained the information through an open records request and the data revealed that “an average of 104 tests were administered annually to football players from 2010 to 2013, the last four years under former coach Mack Brown.” In the eight months that Strong has been in charge of the program, “a total of 188 tests were administered,” which the American-Statesman’s Brian Davis points out more than doubles the rate under Brown when calculated “at an annualized rate.”
Student-athletes are subject to drug testing at any time “during any given academic year,” and UT associate athletic director Allen Hardin told the American-Statesman “the entire football team was drug tested in March just after spring break.”
Hardin, who oversees Texas’ sports medicine and drug testing program, said that Strong and the athletic department’s medical staff then focused on potential repeat offenders who, as Hardin puts it, “are more at-risk” and “are tested more frequently.”
In late March, “a total of 104 drug tests were administered.” Additionally, university records show that select players were also tested in April, May, July, as well as in August during preseason camp. Seven additional players “were tested the day before the season opener against North Texas.”
The American-Statesman’s report also showed that “Brown usually tested players in the spring and mid-October, but never during training camp or before the season opener.”
Per UT policy, tests are administered via urine samples or oral fluid samples.
According to UT’s drug policies, urine samples or oral fluid samples are tested for substances currently banned by the NCAA, which include stimulants, anabolic steroids, street drugs, diuretics and other masking agents. The UT handbook states there is no complete list of banned drug examples.
One positive test for a student-athlete results in counseling. A second positive test results in “counseling and a suspension for 10 percent of his/her season’s games.” A third positive test results in a suspension for 50 percent of the athlete’s season and a fourth positive test results in a dismissal.
Strong has never specified the reasons for the dismissals of the nine players, though it’s known publically that two were dismissed following sexual assault charges.
Tackle Kennedy Estelle was the latest to get the boot on Tuesday, just a day after Strong said the junior would return to practice “this week.” Strong changed his tune after the dismissal was announced and said “something popped up.”
In addition to Estelle, under Strong, senior fullback Chet Moss, senior safety Leroy Scott, senior running back Joe Bergeron, redshirt freshman safety Chevoski Collins, sophomore running back Jalen Overstreet, redshirt freshman wideout Montrel Meander, junior wideout Kendall Sanders and redshirt freshman linebacker Deoundrei Davis have all been dismissed.
The 1-2 Longhorns play Kansas on the road Saturday afternoon in their Big 12 opener.
For more Texas news, visit Orangebloods.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
