Ducks Issue Statement Regarding Marijuana Use

Oregon Athletic Director Rob Mullens today issued a statement in response to a story that will appear in an upcoming issue of ESPN The Magazine in regards to marijuana use in college football and specifically at the University of Oregon.

“Student-athlete welfare is of the utmost importance to the University of Oregon. Similar to many college campuses wrestling with the same issue, the University of Oregon actively works to address potential use of any illegal substance through a combination of education, prevention and enforcement activities. Student-athletes at the University of Oregon are tested for illegal substances to the full extent possible under existing Oregon state law, which prohibits random testing. We continue to work diligently to educate our student-athletes on the harmful impact of illegal substances. In addition, we have articulated our illegal substances policy to our student-athletes and have clearly defined sanctions for a positive test.”

The ESPN story quotes several former players at Oregon regarding the use of marijuana in a story entitled We Smoked it All by Sam Alipour. While the story is centered on athletes at Oregon, it also mentions former NFL players Warren Sapp, current NFL player Randy Moss and Dre Kirkpatrick, the top corner back on last year's BCS Champion Alabama squad, all connected to using marijuana in the past.

The ESPN story also alleges a current member of the Oregon football team as using pot but does not identify who was being quoted in the story.