MIDWAY, FL (WTXL) - On Monday, University of Florida Quarterback Will Grier was suspended for using an over-the-counter substance that was banned by the NCAA. While university officials have not said what substance Grier had taken, a look at the NCAA 2014-2015 Drug-Testing Program shows a wide variety of substances student-athletes can be suspended for.
While many of the substance bans are for well-known items such as street drugs and hormones, the list of banned substances goes beyond the scope of typical drugs.
One stimulant on the list is caffeine greater or equal to 15 micro-grams per milliliter. And how much caffeine is that? According to a study conducted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, an athlete would have to drink approximately 8 cups of ordinary coffee in 15 minutes to get close to levels that high. The study lead researchers to believe that because of how much caffeine is required, "...it can safely be accepted that the athlete purposely ingested large amounts of [caffeine], in whatever form."
And while the NCAA's guidelines do not go into detail about what kinds of dietary supplements student-athletes can take, the warning against taking them without consulting student athletic departments is dire. The NCAA makes it clear that certain supplements could cause a positive drug test and that those results could cause students to lose their eligibility.
The NCAA's list does go into detail listing other examples of banned substances, however they do make students aware that, "There is no complete list of banned substances. Do not rely on this list to rule out any supplement ingredient." And tell students to again, talk with their athletic departments before taking any kind of substance.
This sentiment was echoed by UF Coach Jim McElwain when the announcement of Grier's suspension was made, "It's an honest mistake and yet can be prevented by just checking with our medical staff."
And it's a mistake that will keep Grier off the field for an entire calendar year.
