This is why TM7 CAN return

With all the hear-say I thought I would do some research as to what policies were violated and what actually happened with TM7. There are 3 governing documents that effect TM7's status. They are as follows:

- LSU Student Athlete Compliance Handbook
- LSU Student code of conduct
- NCAA Drug Policy

For those of you who don’t want to read, here are the takeaways:

-LSU Student Athlete Compliance Handbook: Per the team policy, you can be suspended from competition with a loss of scholarship but it's at the coaches and AD's discretion.

-LSU Code of conduct: Unless TM7 was expelled (which he was not); he has not violated the schools policy. The worst that could have happened is that he was on probation with the school for drug-related activities.

-NCAA Policy: A positive test for banned substances will make TM7 ineligible to participate for one calendar year after a positive drug test.

Outcome: There is no rule stating he cannot sit out a year at LSU and return. It is a fully discretionary decision made by the administrative voting committee: The Administrative Voting Committee will be made up of the Athletic Director, Associate Athletic Director, the ADAP Administrator, Drug Prevention Coordinator, and Head Athletic Trainer

If you are interested in the details, see below:

Let's start with LSU's compliance handbook.
After a 3rd failed drug test, a student athlete can be suspended from all athletic activities for one year pending reinstatement by the head coach. A one year suspension from competition can result in the loss of scholarship as dictated by the coach, AD and Drug Test team. If the athlete is to appeal this and wins, they must obtain recurring drug tests and remain drug-free.

From LSU's Compliance Handbook:
LINK

quote:

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6. Up to one-year suspension from all athletic related activities (team practices, weight room, team running, etc…) pending reinstatement by treatment team and head coach.

7. One-year suspension from competition. Scholarship during this period of time is at the discretion of the Athletic Director and Head Coach and dependent upon a negative drug screen and compliance with ADAP program. Reinstatement after the one-year period is with the support of the ADAP treatment team and Athletic Director and at the request of the Head Coach, dependent upon negative drug screen.

8. Any Third Violation Case may be appealed at the written request of the Head Coach detailing the reason(s) for the request.

9. The Administrative Voting Committee will be made up of the Athletic Director, Associate Athletic Director, the ADAP Administrator, Drug Prevention Coordinator, and Head Athletic Trainer. In cases where a student-athlete has exhausted his/her eligibility to compete in a sport, a partial committee may be assembled at the discretion of the Athletic Director.

10. If after review the committee allows the restoration of a Third Violation case, the restoration will be based on full compliance of all Athletic Department rules and regulations for theremainder of student-athlete’s time at LSU. The committee, at its discretion, may impose conditions upon reinstatement that are binding for the student-athlete’s reinstatement to full eligibility. (i.e. loss of scholarship, game suspension, etc…)

11. A successful appeal will result in routine drug tests for the student-athlete. If institutional drug testing reveals the existence of drugs at any time an automatic positive test will be issued and Permanent Ineligibility to participate at LSU will result.

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Takeaway: Per the team policy, you can be suspended from competition with a loss of scholarship but it's at the coaches and AD's discretion.

Next let’s look at the LSU Student Policy:

Section 9.7 Sanctions for Non-Academic Misconduct states that violations NOT including violence, disruption of university activities or theft or damage...Which means all other violations:

LINK

quote:

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The minimum sanction is Warning or Disciplinary Probation.
b. The intermediate sanction is Disciplinary Probation for a period ranging
from one regular semester to the remainder of the Student's enrollment in
the University or a period of separation from the University.
c. The maximum sanction is Expulsion from the University.

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Takeaway: Unless TM7 was expelled, he has not violated the schools policy. The worst that could have happened is that he was on probation with the school for drug-related activities.

Lastly the NCAA Policy

The last governing document is the NCAA policy which states that a school can maintain it's own drug-testing policy but it is not required that the results are reported to the NCAA. LINK
The stipulations within this policy define what the punishment is for testing positive: LINK

quote:

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a. If the NCAA tests you for the banned drugs listed in Bylaw 31.2.3 and you test positive (consistent with NCAA drug-testing protocol), you will be ineligible to participate in regular-season and postseason competition for one calendar year (i.e., 365 days) after your positive drug test, and you will be charged with the loss of a minimum of one season of competition in all sports.

b. If you test positive a second time for the use of any drug, other than a "street drug" as defined in Bylaw 31.2.3, you will lose all remaining regular-season and postseason eligibility in all sports.

c. If you test positive for the use of a "street drug" after being restored to eligibility, you shall be charged with the loss of one additional season of competition in all sports and also shall remain ineligible for regular-season and postseason competition at least through the next calendar year. [Bylaw 18.4.1.5]

d. A policy adopted by the NCAA Executive Committee establishes that the penalty for missing a scheduled drug test is the same as the penalty for testing positive for the use of a banned drug other than a street drug. You will remain ineligible until you retest negative and your eligibility has been restored by the NCAA

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Takeaway: A positive test for banned substances will make TM7 ineligible to participate for one calendar year after a positive drug test .