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Drug Policy Revised, 10 January 2007 Table of Contents General Fire Fighter Combat Challenge Drug and Banned Substances Policy 1.0 Banned Substances 2.0 Positive Drug Test 3.0 Failure to Comply 4.0 Authority 5.0 Consent Form and Waiver Requirement 6.0 Selection for Testing 7.0 Test Notification 8.0 Specimen Collection Procedures 9.0 Specimen Analysis and Notification Procedure 10.0 Positive Test Appeal Process 11.0 Final Notification and Disqualification Procedure 12.0 Glossary Firefighter Combat Challenge Drug and Banned Substance Policy GENERAL The Firefighter Combat Challenge (FCC) has a zero tolerance policy for the use of banned substances by competitors in any FCC sanctioned event. The presence in a competitor's urine of a substance, and/or metabolite of a substance belonging to a class of drugs or substances, currently banned by the Firefighter Combat Challenge (FCC) may be cause for forfeiture of any awards/placing resulting from competition and the permanent loss of eligibility to compete. Further, forfeiture will include disqualification of the offending competitor's team regardless of whether his/her performance time is/was used for team scoring. 1.0 Banned Substances 1.1 The FCC will use the currently published National College Athletic Association (NCAA) banned substance list as its own. This list can be reviewed at the NCAA's web site: http://www2.ncaa.org/legislation_and_governance/eligibility_and_conduct/drug_testing.html or obtained by calling the NCAA national offices or the National Center for Drug Free Sport Resource Exchange Center (REC) at 877-202-0769. Another helpful reference is the Canadian Center for Ethical Sport web site (CCES.CA). 1.2 Related compounds are included in each drug class due to their pharmacological action and/or chemical structure. No substance belonging to the prohibited class may be used, regardless of whether it is specifically listed as an example. The fact that a substance may be a legal or an over the counter substance or medication is irrelevant. 1.3 Testing includes stimulants, anabolic agents, diuretics, peptide hormones and analogues, urine manipulators and others as listed in the current NCAA banned substance list. The NCAA list may change from time to time and it remains the responsibility of each competitor-athlete to be informed and knowledgeable regarding which substances are banned and prohibited. 2.0 Positive Drug Test Evidence of the presence of a banned substance and/or metabolite will be from analysis of the competitor-athlete's urine with confirmation by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry by an approved laboratory. Presence of a banned substrate/prohibited substance in a competitor-athlete's urine will constitute a positive drug test and may lead to disqualification and banishment. 3.0 Failure to Comply Failure of competitor-athletes to comply with requirements of this policy or submit to a screening test by urinalysis may result in denial of participation in FCC events and/or disqualification and banishment. 4.0 Authority 4.1 FCC management (On Target Challenge, Inc.) has final authority over the policy, procedures, implementation and testing of the FCC anti-drug/substance program. FCC management may be assisted by outside consultants as necessary and reserves the right to modify, suspend or change FCC Drug policy and/or protocols as it deems fit to preserve the integrity of the sport and the safety of the competitors. FCC management decisions on drug testing policy, protocol and findings are final. 4.2 The FCC management will appoint a Chief Drug Testing Officer (CDTO) to execute and manage the FCC Drug Testing Program. 4.3 The FCC management may also utilize the services of outside drug testing laboratories or specimen collection agencies to administer/conduct the FCC banned drug/substance testing program as it deems necessary. 4.4 The National Center for Drug Free Sport (USA), will be the primary agency for outside support and screening tests for implementation of FCC Drug and Banned Substances Policy. 4.5 FCC management at each FCC sanctioned event where drug testing will take place will designate a Drug Test Coordinator. He/she will be responsible for ensuring proper specimen collection procedures and handling protocols are followed. The Drug Testing Coordinator will have final say on all issues concerning implementation of the FCC Drug and Banned Substance Policy at their assigned venue. 4.6 A drug-testing laboratory(ies) will be designated for each FCC venue. 4.7 Specimen collection by organizations and/or laboratories other than those authorized by the FCC are not allowed at the site of FCC sanctioned events. 5.0 Consent Form and Waiver A Drug Test Consent Form and Waiver will be agreed to and executed individually by all competitor-athletes as a condition of participation at all FCC events before they will be permitted to take part in any competition. 6.0 Selection for Testing The method for selecting competitor-athletes to be tested will be at the discretion of the FCC management. However, as a general rule, places 1-5 for each event category along with a varying number of other competitor-athletes selected randomly can be expected to be tested. The exact number to be tested at any single event will be known only to the Drug Test Coordinator. All competitor-athletes are subject to being selected for testing from the official competitor lists following the closure of registration at each event. 7.0 Test Notification 7.1 Coordinator (or designee) verbally and in writing (Test Notification Form) following their competitive run. The selected individual will acknowledge by signature that they have been notified to test. All selected competitor-athletes will be given a copy of their notification form and must bring it to the collection station. 7.2 Competitor-athletes will be instructed to read the Test Notification Form and acknowledge his/her selection and the procedure instructions by signing the Test Notification Form. The notification form will instruct the individual to report to the collection station, generally within 30 minutes of the completion of their run, unless otherwise directed by the Drug Test Coordinator. The time of notification will be recorded and is the single acceptable time of notification that will be used to determine compliance and on time reporting to the collection station. 7.3 A single (one) witness may accompany any selected competitor-athlete to the collection station if they so chose. The witness will be asked to remain during the entire collection process and will be asked to sign the Specimen Collection Form with the selected individual. 7.4 Should the competitor-athlete selected for testing choose to have a witness present during testing, he/she is responsible for their conduct during the specimen collection process. Any disruption what so ever of the process (verbal, physical, etc.) by a witness will result in the disqualification of the competitor who they are witnessing. Witnesses will not be permitted to watch the actual collection of the specimen, but will be permitted to be in and observe the collection station as the testing process is executed. 7.5 Competitor-athletes selected for testing shall provide picture identification when entering the drug-testing station. Failure to provide acceptable identification will be grounds for disqualification. Decisions on acceptable identification will be at the discretion of the Drug Test Coordinator. 7.6 Competitor-athletes who fail to sign the Test Notification Form, fail to follow the instructions of the form (or Drug Test Coordinator), fail to arrive at the collection station at the designated time, fail to provide a urine sample according to protocol, leave the collection station before providing a specimen according to protocol, or attempt to alter the integrity or validity of the urine specimen and/or collection process or disrupt the venue testing process will be disqualified and banished. 8.0 Specimen Collection Procedures 8.01 Only those persons authorized by the Drug Test Coordinator will be allowed in the specimen collection station. This will usually be limited to competitors-athletes selected for testing and one witness. 8.02 Upon entering the collection station, the competitor-athlete will be identified by producing their Notification Form and photograph identification. The time of arrival will be recorded on their testing form and procedures and the schedule for the specimen collection will be explained. 8.03 Any fluids and food given to competitor-athletes who have difficulty supplying a specimen (voiding) must be from sealed containers (certified by the test crew chief) that are provided at the collection station and opened and consumed in the station. These items will be free of any banned substances. Athletes should be careful what they consume between notification for testing and providing a sample at the collection station. They are solely responsible for what they consume and any consequence there-from. 8.04 When ready to urinate, the competitor-athlete will select a sealed collection beaker from a supply of such and will record his/her initials on the beaker's lid. 8.05 A test crewmember will monitor the furnishing of the specimen by observation in order to assure the integrity of the specimen until a specimen of at least 85 mL is provided. 8.06 Once a specimen (at least 85 mL) is provided, the competitor-athlete is responsible for keeping the collection beaker closed and controlled. 8.07 If the specimen is incomplete or unacceptable, the competitor-athlete must remain in the collection station until an acceptable sample is collected. During this period, the competitor-athlete is responsible for keeping the collection beaker closed and controlled. 8.08 If the specimen is incomplete and the competitor-athlete must leave the collection station (only for a reason approved by the testing crew chief) the specimen must be discarded. Upon return to the collection station, the competitor-athlete will begin the collection procedure again. 8.09 Once a specimen (at least 85 mL) is provided, the competitor-athlete will pour a small amount of urine into an approved container. A test crewmember will check the specific gravity and pH of the urine in the presence of the competitor-athlete. 8.10 If the urine has a specific gravity below 1.005 (1.010 if measured with a reagent strip), the specimen will be discarded by the competitor-athlete. The competitor-athlete must remain in the collection station until another specimen is provided that meets acceptable requirements. 8.11 If the urine has a pH greater than 7.5 (with reagent strip) or less than 4.5 (with reagent strip), the specimen will be discarded by the competitor-athlete. The competitor-athlete must remain in the collection station until another specimen is provided that meets acceptable requirements. 8.12 If the collected urine has a specific gravity above 1.005 (1.010 if measured with a reagent strip) and the urine has a pH between 4.5 and 7.5 inclusive, the specimen will be processed and sent to the laboratory. The laboratory will make final determination of specimen adequacy. 8.13 If the laboratory determines that a competitor-athlete's specimen is inadequate for analysis, at the FCC's discretion, another specimen may be collected at the individual's home station. 8.14 If a competitor-athlete is found, through testing, observation or other methods, to have manipulated his/her specimen (e.g., via dilution, addition, etc.), the competitor-athlete will be disqualified and banned. 8.15 Once a specimen has been provided that meets the on-site specific gravity and pH parameters, the competitor-athlete will select a specimen collection kit and a uniquely numbered competitor-athlete Specimen Collection Form from a supply of such. 8.16 The test crewmember will record the specific gravity and pH values on the competitor-athlete Signature Form and the crewmember who monitored the furnishing of the specimen by observation will sign the competitor-athlete Specimen Collection Form. 8.17 At the direction of the test crewmember the tested competitor-athlete will pour approximately 60 mL of the specimen into the "A vial" and the remaining amount (approximately 25 mL) into the "B vial." 8.18 The competitor-athlete will place the cap on each vial; the crew member will then seal each vial in the required manner under the observation of the competitor-athlete and witness (if present) 8.19 The laboratory's copy of the competitor-athlete Specimen Collection Form shall not contain the name of the competitor-athlete only a sample number. 8.20 All sealed specimens will be secured in a shipping case. The Drug Testing Coordinator or collection station crew chief will put the laboratory copy of the competitor-athlete Specimen Collection Form in the case, and prepare the case for forwarding. 8.21 The competitor-athlete and witness (if present) will sign the competitor-athlete Specimen Collection Form, certifying that the procedures were followed as described in the protocol. Any deviation from the procedures must be described and recorded on the competitor-athlete Specimen Collection Form at that time. If deviations are alleged, the competitor-athlete will be required to provide another specimen. 8.22 The crewmember will sign the competitor-athlete Specimen Collection Form, give the competitor-athlete or a designee a copy and secure all remaining copies. The compiled competitor-athlete Specimen Collection Forms constitute the "Master Code List" for that drug testing session. 8.23 After all collections have been completed, the specimens will be forwarded to the laboratory and all copies of all forms forwarded to the FCC CDTO at the On Target Challenge, Inc. home office. 8.24 Failure to sign the competitor-athlete Drug Test Notification Form or the competitor-athlete Specimen Collection Form, arrive at the collection station at the designated time or provide a urine specimen according to protocol is cause for disqualification and banishment. The Drug Testing Coordinator will inform the competitor-athlete of these implications (in the presence of witnesses) and record such on the competitor-athlete Notification Form. If the competitor-athlete is not available he/she will be considered to have withdrawn consent and will be disqualified (as will his/her team) forfeiting any place and/or awards on that basis. 8.25 The specimens become the property of the FCC once delivered by the competitor-athlete to the test crew. 9.0 Specimen Analysis and Notification 9.01 The laboratory will use a portion of specimen A for its initial analysis. Analysis will consist of a sample preparation, instrument analysis and data interpretation. 9.02 The laboratory director or designated certifying scientist will review all results showing a banned substance and/or metabolite(s) in specimen A. 9.03 By facsimile, the laboratory will inform the FCC CDTO of the results by each respective code number. Subsequently, the laboratory will mail the corresponding written report to the FCC CDTO. 9.04 Upon receipt of the results, the FCC CDTO will use the Master Code List to identify any individuals with positive findings. 9.05 If a tested competitor-athlete has not heard from the FCC CDTO within 30 days after the specimen was provided, the test results can be assumed to be negative. 9.06 For competitor-athletes who have a positive finding, the FCC CDTO will contact the effected individual by telephone as soon as possible after the results are verified. 9.07 The FCC CDTO will, during the telephone conversation, advise the competitor-athlete that specimen B will be tested after the telephone notification. The competitor-athlete or their designate may be present at the opening of specimen B if they so chose (costs incurred at their own expense). The designate will not otherwise be involved with the analysis of the specimen. 9.08 The competitor-athlete or designate will attest by signature as to the code number on specimen B, that the security seal has not been broken, and that there is no evidence of tampering. 9.09 Sample preparation for specimen B analysis will be conducted by a laboratory staff member other than the individual who prepared the competitor-athlete's specimen A. Specimen B findings will be final and by facsimile, the laboratory will inform the FCC CDTO of the results and mail the corresponding written report to FCC. 9.10 Another telephone contact will be made with the competitor-athlete reporting the findings of the B specimen analysis. It will be followed by "overnight/signature required" letter (marked "confidential") ONLY TO the competitor-athlete officially informing him/her of the final test findings and consequences. 10.0 Positive Test Appeals Process 10.1 Any request for an appeal shall be submitted in writing (e.g., letter, fax, email, etc.) with the reason for the appeal by the individual testing positive and sent to the FCC Chief Drug Testing Officer within 48 hours of written notification of positive results of the B specimen. 10.2 Following proper written notification of appeal, an appeal hearing date and time will be set by the FCC CDTO. All appeal hearings will be conducted by telephone conference with the competitor-athlete required to participate. The competitor-athlete may have others available on the call to provide facts and evidence on his/her behalf, as may the FCC Chief Drug Testing Officer. 10.3 Before the appeal call (hearing) copies of the report from the laboratory that contain results from the A specimen and B specimen will be forwarded ONLY TO the tested individual. 10.4 The case for any appeal will be heard by the FCC Chief Drug Testing Officer, the FCC Vice President of Operations, the President of On Target Challenge, Inc. and a third party (who must be a medical professional; either a physician, nurse, or physiologist. Trainers and/or coaches are not permitted to represent competitor-athletes who test positive at appeals hearings) who can be appointed by the competitor-athlete. 10.5 Following the appeal hearing (conference call) the Appeal Committee will render a judgement on its findings. Deliberations will be in private discussion with no involvement of the individual appealing once he/she has presented their case for appeal. The Appeals Committee decision will be final and the competitor-athlete will be notified via telephone of the findings. A formal letter reporting same by overnight mail will be sent ONLY TO the competitor-athlete. 11.0 Final Notification and Disqualification Procedure 11.1 Notification of a positive drug test will be to the concerned competitor-athlete only. This will include specifics of the positive test and the consequences thereof (disqualification from the event, return of any awards/prizes and ban from competition). No other individual will be notified that the competitor-athlete has tested positive. 11.2 If the competitor-athlete's disqualification results in a change in the top five places of a competition a new finishing order will be revised with individual disqualified from the order of finish. There will be no explanation for the disqualification except the statement "disqualified for rules violation".
12.0 Glossary of Terms
CDTO Chief Drug Testing Officer
Consent Form and Waiver The document that is to be executed by all competitors prior to participation.
Drug Test Notification Form (or Test Notification Form) A form generated by OTC to alert competitors that they have been selected to undergo a urine test
FCC The intellectual property and registered trademark of On Target Challenge, Inc., commonly known as the Firefighter Combat Challenge
NCAA National College Athletic Association
OTC OnTarget Challenge, Inc., the firm for managing the Firefighter Combat Challenge
Specimen Collection Form A form generated by OTC to track compliance and establish a chain of custody.
The National Center for Drug Free Sport A independent entity under the NCAA for the purpose of organizing, managing
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