Testing and Participation Update for Spring Varsity Athletics

Hi, WPI Coaches and Student-Athletes:

We hope finals week is going well. It is hard to believe C-Term is almost over!

We are emailing with some good news and updates regarding Varsity Athletics and routine testing. A recent update from NEWMAC has allowed us to readjust our policy with TNP (testing not performed) and invalid test results, which have previously impacted participation at practices.

• If you have a TNP or invalid result, you will now be permitted to practice as you re-test and await results. However, missing your re-test will result in a loss of practice until negative results are provided.
• Student-athletes with inconclusive test results will be held out of practice while they await re-test results, because there is a higher risk of the re-test resulting in a positive test.
• Institutions now have the flexibility to move Saturday competitions to Sunday, by mutual agreement, to accommodate testing clearance for teams. Currently, teams must submit the roster of cleared student-athletes by 10 p.m. on Fridays. If teams have athletes who have not yet cleared, they may agree to move a competition to Sunday. This means that student-athletes who have a TNP, inconclusive, or invalid from a Thursday test result may be able to retest in time. These decisions will be based on communication between competing institutions and will be relayed to student-athletes.  

We are excited by these new developments as they give us greater flexibility for holding competitions, which we are all eager for.

Sincerely,

Mike DeSavage

Head Athletic Trainer

Shannah Dalton

Associate Head Athletic Trainer