Test policy in place

CHANGE: Testing for prohibited substances such as will begin in June 05.

Photo: LSPH Gavin Hainsworth

Testing under the Prohibited Substances Testing Program (PSTP) will commence on June 16 following amendments to legislation and from direction by the Chief of Defence Force.

New legislation passed in March this year will enable the Royal Australian Navy to test if ADF members are using prohibited substances.

The amended legislation under Part VIIIA of the Defence Act 1903 and subsequent resumption of testing supports the Chief of Defence Force Zero Tolerance policy.

The new program will allow Navy to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its members and the preservation of Navy’s values Director General of Navy Personnel and Training, Commodore Matt Tripovich RAN, said: “The use of prohibited substances poses a threat to Defence capability by undermining safety, morale, security and the reputation of the ADF.

Accordingly, the ADF has a zero tolerance policy for the use of prohibited substances. “In line with this policy, Navy strives to maintain a workplace that is safe for its members and engenders Navy’s values to the highest standards.

Navy values of honour, honesty, courage, integrity and loyalty form the basis of our personal and professional conduct, enabling us to respond dynamically to new situations”.

The new regime of testing uses the most up to date screening methods which ensures duty of care obligations to the individual are met.

Prohibited substances are narcotic substances as defined in the Customs Act 1901, and any other substance as CDF determines, excluding legitimate prescription or over the counter drugs consumed in the prescribed manner.

Prohibited substances include narcotic substances, anabolic agents (steroids), hormones and related substances, beta-2 agents, benzodiazepines, diuretics and other masking agents.

The new procedures produce more immediate results from testing. In the past, test results may have taken two to three weeks. Now, in the majority of cases, an indicative result is immediately available.

The remainder of results would take approximately one week pending more extensive analysis from an accredited lab.

The new regime enables Tri-Service testing with common procedures that ensure the integrity of the process and the protection of the member and Service.

The new program will allow Navy to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its members and the preservation of Navy’s values.

The questions and answers surrounding the key issues are highlighted to give some insight to the prohibited substances program and where you can find more information.

Prohibited Substances

Narcotic substances – including amphetamine, cannabinoids, cocaine, codeine, heroin, hydrocodone, morphine, methadone, opium, pentazocine and pethidine; Anabolic agents (steroids) – including androstenediol, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA); Hormones and related substances – including erythropoietin (EPO), growth hormone (hGH), gonadotrophins (LH, hCG), insulin, insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1) and corticotrophins; Beta-2 agents – including bambuterol, clenbuterol, fenoterol, formoterol and reproterol; Diuretics and other masking agents – including acetazolamide, bumetanide, etacrynic acid, frusemide (furosemide), triamterene, epitestosterone, alpha-reductase inhibitors, and plasma expanders; Benzodiazepines – including diazepam (valium), temazepam (normison), flunitrazepam (rohypnol) and oxazepam (serepax). For a more detailed list of prohibited substances see the Customs Act 1901, definition of narcotic substance. A positive test result for a prohibited substance will be disregarded where an authorised person is satisfied that the result is wholly attributable to something done in accordance with the directions or recommendations of a legally qualified medical practitioner.

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