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Kamloops-Thompson trustees tweak drug/alcohol policy for student athletes

Athletes violating the no-alcohol/drug rule will be suspended for up to one calendar year
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By Kamloops This Week

The Kamloops-Thompson school district has revised its policy on punishment for student athletes who use alcohol or drugs.

Trustees last week unaminously supported the revision, which deals with the length of suspensions from school sports.

SD73 secretary-treasurer Kelvin Stretch said the former policy mandated a one-year suspension, while the revised policy states student athletes violating the no-alcohol/drug rule will be suspended for up to one calendar year.

Stretch told KTW the change after two Grade 11 student athletes were suspended last year for violating the code of conduct and their parents challenged the year-long suspension from competing.

Stretch said the province’s ombudsperson suggested the policy revision as a full calendar year suspension could impact post-secondary futures of student athletes.

Under the new policy, administration will consider each violation on its own merits, with suspension length varying, to a maximum of one calendar year.