NCAA Banned Substances and Medical Exceptions

The NCAA bans the following classes of drugs:
  1. Stimulants
  2. Anabolic Agents
  3. Alcohol and Beta Blockers (banned for rifle only) 
  4. Diuretics and Other Masking Agents
  5. Street Drugs
  6. Peptide Hormones and Analogues
  7. Anti-Estrogens
  8. Beta-2 Agonists
Any substance chemically related to these classes is also banned. The institution and the student-athlete shall be held accountable for all drugs within the banned-drug class regardless of whether they have been specifically identified.

Drugs and Procedures Subject to Restrictions:
  1. Blood Doping
  2. Local Anesthetics (under some conditions)
  3. Manipulation of Urine Samples
  4. Beta-2 Agonists permitted only by prescription and inhalation.
  5. Caffeine – if concentrations in urine exceed 15 micrograms/ml.
NCAA Nutritional/Dietary Supplements Warning:
  • Before consuming any nutritional/dietary supplement product, review the product and its label with your athletics department staff!
  • Dietary supplements are not well regulated and may cause a positive drug test result.
  • Student-athletes have tested positive and lost their eligibility using dietary supplements.
  • Many dietary supplements are contaminated with banned drugs not listed on the label.
  • Any product containing a dietary supplement ingredient is taken at your own risk.
Information about ingredients in medications and nutritional/dietary supplements can be obtained by contacting the Resource Exchange Center (REC) at 877/202-0769 or www.drugfreesport.com/rec (password ncaa3).

Medical Exceptions Information

The NCAA has banned certain classes of drugs because they can harm student-athletes and can create an unfair advantage in competition. However, some student-athletes may need to use these medicines to support their academics and their general health. The NCAA has a medical exceptions procedure to review and approve legitimate use of medications that contain NCAA banned substances.

The use of any medication that contains a banned substance must be approved.  For anabolic agents (testosterone) and peptide hormones (hGH), a request for review and approval must be submitted to The National Center for Drug Free Sport (NCDFS) through the Director of Athletics prior to the use of the medication.   For stimulants, diuretics, and anti-estrogen use, the request and approval should be made following the notice of a positive NCAA drug test.

Download Connecticut College Sports Medicine's Medical Exceptions Procedures below:

Medical Exception Procedures for ADD/ADHD medications

Medical Exception Procedures for Anabolic Agents and Peptide Hormones


Athletes requesting an exception for ADD/ADHD medications must fill out the Connecticut College Sports Medicine Department’s Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Medical Exception Information Form, and attach documentation as directed on the form. A simple statement from the prescribing physician that he or she is treating the student-athlete with said medication is NOT adequate documentation.


Student-athletes are responsible for notifying the sports medicine staff of any medications they are taking when they fill out their yearly Athletics Health Questionnaire for Intercollegiate Athletics, and are also responsible for updating the sports medicine staff during the school year if there are any changes in these medications. The sole responsibility for meeting NCAA requirements rests with the student-athlete and his or her physician. Student-athletes must provide the Connecticut College Sports Medicine Department with all documentation related to the use of banned substances. Connecticut College’s Department of Athletics, Sports Medicine, or Health Services will not track or verify any information kept for this purpose.

Questions should be directed to the Connecticut College Sports Medicine Staff at (860) 439-2571

Documentation can be faxed to the Connecticut College Sports Medicine Staff at (860) 439-5033, emailed to sportsmedicine@conncoll.edu, or mailed to: Connecticut College Sports Medicine – 270 Mohegan Ave. – New London, CT 06320.