There is a lot of misunderstandings about NCAA and University drug testing programs. The NCAA should really do a better job of educating the fan base. The lack of information frequently causes confusion.
This is the way it works.
The NCAA administers a year round drug testing program. In addition it does testing at championship events.
Each school is required to give the NCAA a team roster. The NCAA randomly selects players and gives the school a list of who will be tested. At championship events the school is given no advance notice of which athletes will be tested. If the testing is not during a championship event then the school is given a one day notice or no notice.
The NCAA does not routinely test for street drugs. The NCAA tests athletes for the following PED's:
- Anabolic Agents
- Diuretics and other masking agents
- Peptide Hormones and Analogues
- Anti-Estrogens
- Beta-2 Agonists
If a player fails an NCAA administered test they automatically receive a 12 month suspension. In addition, a player that fails an NCAA administered test may face enhanced screening in the future that could involve testing for street drugs. If a player fails a second NCAA administered test they lose all remaining eligibility and are no longer allowed to compete in NCAA sanctioned events.
It is up to each university to decide if they want to conduct their own institutional testing programs independent of NCAA drug testing. The NCAA does not require individual schools to conduct testing. However, most institutions do test their athletes.
There are no NCAA rules that stipulate what a school may or may not test for or what penalties should be handed down for failed drug tests. It is entirely up to each institution to determine what they want to test for and what if any penalties may apply.
That is why you may see a student athlete that tests positive for marijuana at one school be suspended for a game or two and the same situation at another school results in running extra laps.
That is also why you never see an athlete get a 12 month suspension for failing an NCAA administered test in which they tested positive for marijuana or cocaine. It rarely happens because the NCAA rarely tests for street drugs.
Therefore, Clemson did not have to test the athletes and once they tested positive they did not have to punish them. In addition, it may be that none of the other schools are announcing positive results because they chose not to test.
Don't blame the messenger, I don't make the rules.