Is BPC-157 Banned by the NCAA? Rules for College Athletes

Is BPC-157 banned by NCAA rules? The NCAA has a different list of banned substances from WADA, and college athletes can lose eligibility for using banned drugs, ending their careers sooner than professionals. This page outlines BPC-157 classification under NCAA legislation and what a positive test means for college athletes.

Is BPC-157 on the NCAA Banned Substance List?

NCAA Drug Testing Framework

The NCAA has classified substances that are not allowed during sports into numerous categories like stimulants, anabolic agents, alcohol and beta blockers (rifle), diuretics and masking agents, narcotics, cannabinoids, peptide hormones and analogues, hormone and metabolic modulators, and beta-2 agonists. This list is provided annually on the NCAA drug testing page.

Where BPC-157 Falls

BPC-157 is a type of synthetic peptide. It falls under the NCAA banned substances list, where there is a section of "peptide hormones and analogues" containing IGF-1, growth hormone, and erythropoietin. There is also the clause of "any related substances," which covers all aspects of the prohibited substance, along with everything that falls under peptide hormones and peptide analogues. The synthetic peptide BPC-157 is likely to fall under the disapproved form of the NCAA.

The Catch-All Problem

NCAA listed banned substances include phrases such as “and related compounds” and “any substance that is chemically or pharmacologically related.” This means that NCAA’s language of banned substances is deliberately vague. However, just because BPC-157 is not specifically mentioned in the list does not mean that NCAA cannot consider it a banned substance under other provisions. So, the absence of the specific names does not imply that athletes can argue that the substance is legal.

NCAA vs. WADA Rules

Different Lists, Overlapping Coverage

There are two different banned substances lists: the one that has been formulated by WADA and the one from the NCAA. The two lists are not the same. NCAA list is shorter compared to the WADA list. However, both lists include peptide hormones. So if the athlete takes part in the sport governed by the NCAA rules as well as WADA regulations, he/she should abide by both lists.

What a Positive Test Means

Immediate Consequences

A college athlete who tests positive for a banned substance loses eligibility for a minimum of one full season of competition (365 days). The athlete is withheld from all competition immediately. The positive test goes on the athlete's record. Division I, II and III all follow the same basic framework, though specific procedures vary by division.

Scholarship Implications

Usually, athletic scholarships are renewed every year. A drug test that is positive may prompt the institution to rethink grant renewal. Although NCAA regulations require that scholarship athletes are entitled to a hearing before their scholarship is reduced, drug transgression diminishes the athlete's position significantly. Some institutions have conduct policies which classify drug offenses as justification for immediate scholarship review.

Second Violations

In case of any second positive test for the same substance, the athlete loses all the chances of taking part in the sport. They could no longer engage in collegiate sports. Accordingly, this is equivalent to a lifetime suspension from participating in collegiate sports.

Transfer Implications

Once a drug test has been violated, the athlete in question carries the violation with him/her when transferring to another school or institution. The receiving institution will be notified of the violation. Also, the period of eligibility will keep progressing automatically with or without the transfer.

NCAA Drug Testing Procedures

When Testing Happens

Drug testing is carried out by the NCAA in two contexts, i.e., championship testing (done at NCAA championship events) and year-round testing (random selection done at any point in the academic year). Athletes in any of the three divisions are tested. The selection process is based on individuals and teams in terms of sport, division, and random selection.

What Tests Detect

The NCAA employs drug testing methods that include mass spectroscopy principles similar to the methods employed in many laboratories accredited by WADA. The technological advancement of analytical instruments in the field of doping analysis has led to new possibilities in doping detection, such as identification of synthetic peptides. However, whether a specific doping test is able to detect BPC-157 metabolites is dependent on the testing laboratory's current panel, the elements of which remain undisclosed by NCAA.

Institutional Testing

Several colleges and universities implement their own drug-testing systems along with NCAA testing. It is possible for institutions to test other kinds of compounds, test frequently, and have different forms of punishment. So an athlete might pass NCAA testing but still be sanctioned by the institution in question if their school tests for BPC-157 and related peptides.

The Medical Exception Process

How It Works

The NCAA has strict medical exceptions regarding substances that are banned if the athlete possesses a legitimate medical condition that requires treatment using one or more banned substance. The procedure involves provision of evidence by the physician treating the illness and discussion by the institution's medical staff and sometimes approval from NCAA.

Why It Probably Does Not Apply to BPC-157

For a substance to be regarded as a legitimate medical exception, it should be recognized as an actual medical treatment that has received a prescription from a certified practitioner. BPC-157 does not have any such sanctions from the FDA. Physicians can prescribe the substance for therapeutical reasons, however, it will be impossible to prove medical justification for the use of the substance which has no indication as a part of a medical treatment.