The spectrum of drug testing policies in minor league sports runs from enforcing strict, rigorous rules in some leagues, to having no official policy at all in others.

In our highly unscientific survey, MLN could only find four leagues outside of affiliated baseball that perform substance-testing and only two of those tests are performed randomly.

Central Hockey League Drug Testing Most Comprehensive In Industry

The Central Hockey League (CHL) has one of the most comprehensive drug testing policies in minor league sports. Although they do not currently test specifically for ephedra, they do test for other stimulants as part of a ban on stimulants, steroids, narcotics, and diuretics.

"All teams are tested randomly one to two times a year," said Steve Cherwonak, Director of Media Relations for the CHL.

"Players are given a drug awareness policy form, a booklet handed to each player by the coach or trainer," notes Duane Lewis, V.P. of Operations for the CHL. According to Lewis, all players sign a drug testing agreement as part of their general contract.

Players failing a drug test go on a thirty-day suspension. The team is notified, but the media is not. "Teams have some latitude in how they can talk about a drug suspension." During the suspension, players who want reinstatement have to undergo drug counseling during the thirty days. They can only be reinstated after the coach, player, team physician, and the rehabilitation professional have signed off on the player's counseling.

The WPHL/CHL has had a drug policy in place for six years. In that time, only one player has tested positive for a banned substance, during the first league playoffs. "It took that to bring it to our attention," said Lewis. The player received counseling, and returned to his team. During the merger, the drug policy from the Western Professional Hockey League was applied without much comment.

A concern of coaches was that players would not play for the WPHL or CHL with a drug policy in place. "Our feeling was that it wouldn't be an issue," says Lewis. "If it was an issue for a player, this is not the player you want playing for you."

The CHL has done extensive education, including bringing in law enforcement officers to educational meetings, and putting out advisories on substances that may put an athlete's health and career at risk.

While Ephedra may qualify under the general ban on stimulants, it is not specifically classified or tested at this time. Cherwonak tells MLN that it will be discussed as part of a tweak of the substance list at this year's CHL summer meetings.

Most other leagues in minor league hockey aren’t quite as thorough as the CHL when it comes to their drug policies. Often, the course of action is left up to the team to implement and/or enforce.

“The ECHL does not have an official drug testing policy,” East Coast Hockey League President Richard McKenna told MLN. “The teams in the past have policed themselves.”

The league has a plan in the works though.

“However we’re currently in the last year of a collective bargaining agreement with our union, the Pro Hockey Players Association,” McKenna added. “That is one of the items that will be on the table for discussion during the upcoming negotiations, and ephedra will be discussed.

The United Hockey League also relies on the teams in the league to police themselves.

“We have no standardized policy,” Ron Caron, Vice President of Hockey Operations for the UHL, said. “We prohibit all federally mandated illegal drugs, but anything you can pick-up at the GNC, like ephedra, we have no policy to prohibit that.”

Although the UHL does not initiate any drug testing, the teams in league can reserve the right to test.

Dave Andrews, President of the AHL, was unavailable at press time for comment. Director of Media Relations for the AHL, Bret Stohart was himself uncertain of the league’s drug policy.

“Our drug policy is the same as the NHL. They handle it, as almost every player in our league is on an NHL contract,” he said. “So basically the NHL policy is our policy.”

Calls to the NHL not returned at press time.

The Atlantic Coast Hockey League could be considered “only” an eight-team league. They lack the high dollar contracts and NHL affiliations, but the ACHL is currently the only hockey league to prohibit ephedra.

Jim Riggs, Commissioner of the ACHL, told MLN that the league currently bans ephedra, along with other substances including steroids, stimulants, and narcotics. Players that test positive for illegal substances are offered rehabilitation. The individual team decides the discipline for such infractions.

Basketball Bag is Mixed

As with hockey, minor league basketball also seems to face some inconsistencies between leagues, regarding drug testing policies and practices within the sport. The leagues are not faltering to deal with the problem though.

The Continental Basketball Association (CBA) is the only league, other than the CHL, that performs tests randomly.

“We do drug testing. We test every player at the beginning of the season, then we randomly test throughout the year,” CBA Commissioner Gary Hunter told MLN.

“We haven’t dealt specifically with ephedra yet, as the controversy is just now beginning to rear its ugly head, so I suspect we will deal with that at the owners meeting in June. I plan to put it on the agenda at that time.”

It seems the ephedra issue has garnered its share of attention in minor league basketball as well.

“We have not banned ephedra in the NBDL but we do warn against using it and the adverse effects it has on our players,” said Skip Hicks, Executive Director of the NBDL.

“With supplements such as ephedra, we have a player programs dept, that puts on workshops for our players throughout the year. They speak specifically about ephedra, talk about its adverse effects on your health and warn against using those supplements.”

The NBDL also performs tests for illegal substances, although not randomly.

“We do drug test all players that come into the league for cocaine, marijuana, PCP, heroin, amphetamines, and MDMA (ecstasy). We also reserve the right to test for other drugs such as steroids,” Hicks said. “We test all players at the beginning of the season and any new player to the league throughout the year.”

Football Appears to be Tackling the Issue.

"The AFL is currently operating under its old policy," said Chris McCloskey, Vice President of Communications for the Arena Football League.

The AFL currently conducts random tests for illegal drugs and steroids only at this time with a three-strike penalty system:

McCloskey tells MLN that a "comprehensive policy" on drugs will be part of that agreement, and will include mechanisms to introduce new substances.

As for a ban on ephedra in the AFL, McCloskey characterized the negotiations as a "productive discussion."

Indy Baseball Salutes Ban, Doesn't See Own Need.

“We’re basically talking about independent players, “ said Miles Wolff, Commissioner of the Central Baseball League and the Northeast League. “The guys at the major league level, they’re trying to get down to weight. They have got huge pressures on them.”

“Ephedra isn’t a performance enhancing substance. My understanding is it’s more to lose weight. Quite frankly, there isn’t the pressure on our guys to lose weight, Wolff added. “If you come in out of shape, you don’t make the team. It’s not like you have a big contract.”

“I don’t think it’s a problem at the independent level like it would be at the major league or the upper minors level,” Wolff admitted.

This does not mean the independent leagues condone any substance abuse.

“We’re not big enough to have huge drug tests,” Wolff told MLN. “If someone gets caught using drugs we have a one strike and you’re out thing.”

Wolff also praised affiliated baseball for taking a stance on ephedra.

“I think it’s good. Certainly, with what’s happened to the Orioles player [Steve Bechler], I think it’s positive.”

The man in charge of two independent baseball leagues had words that every athlete in all sports, major or minor should perhaps consider.

When asked if his leagues would consider posing any consequences for players that take ephedra, Wolff replied: “Well I think if they’re taking it, they’re going to die.”

To some, a price well worth days spent playing ball.