Drug Q&A: What's alleged, what could be next in UW case

With allegations last week that a doctor has been prescribing drugs improperly to University of Washington athletes and trainers, many questions are left unanswered. Here is a look at some of the key issues:

Q: In a nutshell, what did the doctor do?

A: State health officials say that Dr. William J. Scheyer improperly stockpiled large quantities of prescription drugs and dispensed them to student-athletes and trainers at the University of Washington. According to the investigation, he did so without examining the athletes or keeping records justifying the medications. He also is accused of allowing trainers to prescribe and dispense medication, including narcotics, and he prescribed steroids and other drugs for his personal use. He was known by some athletes as "Dr. Feel Good," and was said to have freely handed out pills in white envelopes. A trainer and a softball player reportedly became addicted to some of the medications.

Q: Why can't a doctor give athletes medication?

A: Each athlete needs to be treated and diagnosed individually, with medications prescribed specifically for him or her. And there are certain banned drugs that cannot be prescribed for collegiate athletes.

Q: Is what he did illegal?

A: That remains to be seen. At this stage, his license has been suspended, and he has 20 days to reply to the allegations. He already admitted to several of the allegations in a signed statement to the State Department of Health. The pharmacist who provided the drugs has not had his license revoked, but could undergo further scrutiny as well.

Q: What drugs are we talking about? Are any of the medications involved on the NCAA banned list?

A: The health department said Scheyer wrote at least two prescriptions for Ritalin, classified as a stimulant and specifically banned by the NCAA. He told investigators he intended to give them to an athlete recovering from the flu, but ended up discarding the drugs because they had expired. He also dispensed drugs not specifically on the NCAA banned list such as narcotics (Endocet, Vicodin), tranquilizers and muscle relaxants (Sonata, Ambien, Benzodiazepines), antibacterial agents (MetroGel), and oral contraceptives (Micronor).

The NCAA list of banned drugs includes various stimulants, anabolic steroids, diuretics, street drugs (such as heroin, marijuana, THC, Ecstasy, cocaine), peptide hormones and analogs (such as growth hormones). For certain sports, such as rifle shooting, alcohol is also prohibited.

Q: Were steroids involved?

A: While Scheyer did write prescriptions for steroid gels containing testosterone, there was no evidence that he gave them to athletes, state officials said. Further, they say the 75-year-old doctor was prescribing them for himself and/or his wife.

Q: Is the NCAA or the Pac-10 investigating the matter?

A: Washington athletic director Barbara Hedges said yesterday that there were no apparent NCAA violations. Softball coach Teresa Wilson said "members of the softball program have done nothing wrong." However, it is too soon to say the NCAA and Pac-10 won't investigate, and Hedges added that the school's internal investigation had not been completed. A Pac-10 spokesman said yesterday that the conference is "still learning about this, just like you are."

Q: What NCAA rules are involved?

A: If anyone in the UW athletic department or anyone in its employ had knowledge of an athlete using a banned drug and didn't follow proper procedures, they would be subject to discipline.

Scheyer told investigators that the softball coach and trainers knew he was dispensing non-banned drugs to athletes other than those whom the medications had been prescribed. Coach Wilson said she knew he prescribed medication to her players, but that she didn't believe there was anything irregular about the prescriptions.

Q: How long has the doctor been with the university?

A: Scheyer starting working with UW athletic teams in 1984, and has worked with football, track, cross country, men's basketball and softball over that time. But for the past four years, the UW said he has only associated with the softball program. Two years ago, he was moved to volunteer consultant status, and about a month ago, Hedges disengaged him from that role as well.

In 1997, the school changed its system and decided to use physicians from the UW School of Medicine. Hedges said Scheyer was allowed to continue working with the softball program because Wilson "felt very comfortable with Scheyer and felt he gave very good care to the softball program."

Q: Because the doctor worked with several teams at the UW over the past two decades, can more be brought out from the past? Is there a statute of limitations?

A: The NCAA has a four-year statue of limitations, with the following exceptions:

1) Allegations involving violations affecting the eligibility of a current athlete;

2) Allegations of a case in which there is a pattern of willful violations that began before but continued into the four-year period; or

3) Allegations that a blatant disregard for fundamental recruiting, extra benefits, academic or ethical conduct regulations or that involved an effort to conceal the violation.

Q: Are any of the coaches or trainers involved?

A: While Scheyer told investigators that trainers and coaches knew what he was doing, the university denied that they were aware of any wrongdoing. Coach Wilson said Scheyer has prescribed antibiotics for her personally, but emphasized that neither she nor anyone in her program had done anything wrong.

Q: Why didn't the UW didn't catch this in drug tests if it was so prevalent? And why can't the UW or the NCAA drug test them now?

A: The UW is prohibited by the state from conducting its own drug tests unless it has reasonable suspicion. That policy came about after a UW cross-country runner, Betsy O'Halloran, sued UW in 1987 saying its plan to randomly test athletes violated her right to privacy. In a court-approved settlement, UW decided to test only for "reasonable suspicion" or if an athlete asked to be tested.

That policy also prohibits random drug testing at Washington State.

Hedges said the school has argued that policy and wishes the school could drug test. Even now, university officials say the state's policy is so strict that even this recent incident would not amount to reasonable cause to drug test the members of the softball team.

The NCAA tests for banned drugs at its championship events, and did test members of the softball team at the College World Series in 2001. Hedges said no one in the athletic program has ever had a positive drug test.

The NCAA has conducted random testing during the season for football and track and field. However, the NCAA recently extended testing to all sports, and could initiate that as soon as next year.

Wilson said she would gladly have every player on her team drug tested: "Any time, any place.... Bring the cup and you invite the person to administer the drug test, and we will be happy to fill those cups for you."

Q: What is the penalty if an student-athlete tests positive?

A: The athlete is declared ineligible for one year and will remain ineligible until a negative test.

Seattle Times staff reporters Mike Carter, Bob Condotta, Bud Withers and sports editor Cathy Henkel contributed to this report.