ADHD/ADD Exemption Form - completed yearly
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD)
As experienced across campus, more and more college students-athletes are being treated with stimulant medications for ADHD. These stimulants are banned for use in NCAA competition for both performance and health reasons, and using them may result in a positive drug test and loss of eligibility, unless the student-athlete provides adequate documentation of a diagnostic evaluation for ADHD and appropriate monitoring of treatment. In recent years, the number of student-athletes testing positive for these stimulant medications has increased 3 fold, and in many cases there has been inadequate documentation submitted in support of the request for a medical exception to the NCAA banned drug policy.
Banned Stimulant Medications & Exceptions
While the NCAA bans the use of certain stimulant medications, such as ADHD/ADD medications, a student-athlete can provide appropriate documentation validating the need for these medications. A student-athlete participating in intercollegiate athletics at the University of Charleston is strongly encouraged to complete the ADHD/ADD Medical Exception for NCAA Form prior to the beginning of each academic year, which is valid for only one calendar year from the date signed.
Evaluation and Medical Documentation
The initial evaluation may be conducted by clinicians with experience in assessing ADHD; these include school psychologists, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, other MD’s and their supervised clinicians. The documentation should include a comprehensive clinical evaluation, recording observations and results from ADHD rating scales, a physical exam and any lab work, previous treatment for ADHD, and the diagnosis and recommended treatment. The physician can provide documentation of the above either with a cover letter and attachments or provide the medical record, along with completing the ADHD/ADD Medical Exception for NCAA Form. This documentation should be kept on file in the athletics department until such time that the student-athlete tests positive for the stimulant.
Inadequate or Lack of Documentation
A simple statement from the prescribing physician that he or she is treating the student-athlete for ADHD with said medication IS NOT adequate documentation. A student-athlete who is unable to produce medical records of an evaluation at the time that a positive NCAA drug test is confirmed with the institution, the student-athlete must be declared ineligible until 1) the documentation can be produced or 2) a drug-test appeal is heard and approved.
Medical Information
It is important for all student-athletes to report all medical issues and medications to the athletic trainers and team physicians in order to respond appropriately to any medical emergency and avoid loss of eligibility. A student-athlete should not be embarrassed about taking ADHD medications. All medical information shared with the athletic trainer and team physician is treated as confidential information.
Much of the information written above was taken directly from the following sources with permission of the NCAA.
