‘Court of Public Opinion’ is Least of Jeremy Mayfield’s Worries
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Jeremy Mayfield’s indefinite suspension over the weekend for allegedly having illegal substances in his system was a huge shock.
Mayfield becomes the first driver in Sprint Cup history to be suspended for substance use and/or abuse.
Mayfield issued a statement late Saturday, shortly after his suspension was announced, that he believes the positive test result that led to his suspension was actually the interaction of a prescribed medication and an over-the-counter medication.
If that’s the case, Mayfield should be absolved soon enough by legal means.
But even if there is a logical, valid and, most importantly, LEGAL and LOGICAL explanation for what happened to Mayfield, will NASCAR be its usual adamant self and still refuse to reinstate him?
Will the sanctioning body claim divine right, that it sets the rules and enforces them as it sees fit – and that it was only following the recommendation of a doctor and outside testing firm it has retained to oversee its drug testing program – even if the testing process may have some huge flaws in it, as might be evidenced if Mayfield wins his appeal?
Something tells me that in its bid to try and do the right thing when it comes to drug testing, and trying to correct a decade-old previous system that was the joke of the sports world for its alleged “effectiveness,” NASCAR may have made itself look even more foolish in jumping to such a quick conclusion of Mayfield’s fate.
So, how does NASCAR and Mayfield both save face – and both win, so to speak, in the long run?
Mayfield must present a compelling case backed up by his own doctor, as well as medical experts that will testify on his behalf. That shouldn’t be too hard to do, provided he really is telling the truth, which, having known him for many years, I wholeheartedly believe he is.
NASCAR, meanwhile, must tell a judge that it was only trying to do the right thing and that Mayfield just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and with the wrong things in his system at the wrong time, as well.
If it doesn’t agree to be more open-minded and give Mayfield the benefit of the doubt, NASCAR might want to take its own test: for stupidity.
Catch ‘ya back here Tuesday.
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