Who Will be the Next Driver to be Victimized by NASCAR’s Drug Policy?
Drew Hallowell/Getty Images for NASCAR
I spotted an interesting blurb on Jayski.com Wednesday night that I just had to share with you.
On the Performance Racing Network’s “Garage Pass” show, Sprint Cup driver Greg Biffle weighed in on NASCAR’s new drug policy.
Biffle’s comments shows the lunacy that drivers now must have to contend with to see if they are or aren’t in compliance with the policy.
Earlier this year, Biffle was recovering from sore ribs suffered in a boating accident. He planned to mix a prescription medication with an over-the-counter product – in much the same fashion Jeremy Mayfield claims he did, only to be suspended by NASCAR for illegal substance – when Biffle had second thoughts.
Unnecessary second thoughts, I might add. If he’s in pain, needs medication, it’s legally prescribed and the over-the-counter medication is also readily available for purchase, there should be no issue.
But with NASCAR’s new policy, there is a huge issue.
“I was trying to get a clarification on a prescription that they (doctors) wanted to give me,” Biffle told PRN. “They gave me a prescription, but I never took it because I didn’t really get a clear answer on it … I just ended up taking Ibuprofen instead of anything else.
“It’s a difficult spot especially with a rib injury like I had on what to do or what not to do. I did what I thought was right which was to weigh on the side of safety and that was not take it … Take Ibuprofen and just tough it out. If you’ve gotta weigh on the side of something, weigh on the side of safety in my opinion.”
So, who is going to be the next driver victimized by the new policy? Maybe drivers should get together and boycott the Coca-Cola 600 or another big race and either force NASCAR to rescind the policy or at least publicly release the full list of supposedly “banned” substances.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 05/13 at 09:14 PMI’m having a hard time coming up with a reason why the “banned” substance list isn’t already released. Everyone connected with the sport should have the list. It should be part of the NASCAR rule book. Every team owner, team employee, and any medical personnel that deal with any member of the team, should have the list at hand.
In my opinion, NASCAR itself is in violation of section 12-4-A “actions detrimental to stock car racing”, by not having the list published. ( I have put the sanctioning body on probation for the rest of the year, and fined them $10,000 – to be donated to the Victory Junction Gang Camps.)
Honestly—how can you suspend someone for doing something he or she has no idea is in violation of policy?
At a minimum the doctors prescribing medication should have the list. If NASCAR is going to punish drivers for taking medication they have no idea is on the naughty list, what’s next?
Forbidding them from going to the doctor?
I like your idea Taglia, but let’s go a step further and make sure NASCAR has “no appeals process” for your probation & fine!!!
;) - LOL
NASCAR officials take precedent over doctors for some drivers? Now that is a win at all costs mentality. I agree, you can’t punish someone unless they know the rules. The banned list should be published. But, if they do, they may piss off a sponsor, god forbid. Can you imagine, Clariton and Tylenol Fast Tabs (or whatever they are called) showing up on the list. $$$$ flying away from the France bank account, YEAH RIGHT. What these guys need to do is start over. All the drivers need to start a new organization and tell the France family to “kiss my tailpipe”.
NASCAR is doing Jeremy a favor by keeping his results private. Hey Jeremy, if you are innocent you sure are quite. Hell, Tim Richmond did TV interviews and flew banner planes over the race tracks when he got suspended.
Where are you Jeremy? I’d keep my mouth shut too if I were him.
How is NASCAR doing Jeremy Mayfield a “favor”? They’ve tried to bury this and hope it goes away. KarenS hit the nail right on the head, and Jerry alluded to this earlier: Jeremy got pinched for using an OTC product, most likely Claritin, in conjunction with a prescribed drug. THAT’S why NASCAR doesn’t want to release the list of “banned substances” and why there has been nary a peep out of NASCAR since the initial announcement. You think they want to piss off a major sponsor?
Owing to the litigious society we live in, to openly mock Jeremy Mayfield for not speaking publicly is absurd. *I* wouldn’t either; not until I had my lawyers contact NASCAR and Aegis Labs and find out exactly what I got suspended for and, if it’s available OTC and NASCAR accepts millions in sponsorship dollars for it and allows one of its drivers to claim that he’s a user, why a suspension was handed down. Considering how tight-lipped NASCAR has been about the whole thing, why tip your hand or litigate it in the press? That makes no sense at all.
And I would just LOVE for Brian France, Mike Helton, and all the executives and support staff at NASCAR to take the drug test themselves, and take it during flu and allergy season. I *guarantee* you 2 things: (1) You would have more than one positive test, and (2) their tune would change REAL quick after one of them got nailed for testing positive from OTC medication.
There is no conspiracy. There is a list of banned substances that every team and driver has a copy of. NASCAR has an iron case against him and he knows it. The day Mayfield made his statement that it probably was OTC medication that he mixed NASCAR came out and said that in this case that was not possible. You understand? They are doing him a favor and protecting his privacy by not revealing what drug he has been using. Thats why he has been as quite as a church mouse. Not because he is gathering a team of lawyers to fight NASCAR.
Mayfield was not suspended for using Claritin and another prescribed drug.
If you believe that ,you also believe in santa and the easter bunny.
Spotter22,
If the list of banned substances is with every team, and every driver, why can I, nor the media outlets, obtain this list?
At this point, I don’t care who took what. I want to see the list.
Also for Spotter22,
Takend from ESPN.com:
“Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s vice president of racing operations and the point person on the policy, said the lack of a specific list allows NASCAR to test for abuse of all substances.
“We think we have the broadest policy in all of sports,” he said. “As you’ve seen in other leagues, the list is constantly changing.”
Dr. David L. Black, president of AEGIS, the independent laboratory that will conduct NASCAR’s tests, argued most sports have specific lists because they are focused on preventing illegal and performance-enhancing drugs.”
There is no banned list. Do your research.
Spotter22, considering NASCAR itself has said there’s no specific list, clearly you must have seen this so-called “banned substances” list in order to claim that every team and driver has it. If you would be so kind as to share it with us it would be highly appreciated….
I cant post my reply.
I keep trying to cut and paste the list but it says “sorry we cant accept this comment” anyone know why?
Probably a conspiracy by Santa and the Easter Bunny.
Yeah. Well I’ll keep trying but the bottom line is there is a list. The teams were given the list in December. The drivers have to adhere to that same list PLUS they can also be tested for other substances beyond it. Thats a fact.
Just a little back ground. I was a spotter in Sprint Cup. I no longer am but I still have several friends that I’ve made over the the years that still are.
Spotter22, This may help with your explination.
Posted today at 3:44 on FOXSports.com
It’s still not a list, but it does have very good information.
Did you spot for Ward?
The list given in December was for crew members only. Not drivers.
“says “A banned substance list does exist” - for crew members, but not NASCAR drivers ... Ed Hinton, senior writer for ESPN.com, said today on NASCAR Now.”
That is a fact, the only one I have been able to find regarding lists. There is no list for the drivers, because Nascar believes that gives them the right to test for anything.
I dont understand the comment “gives NASCAR the right to test for anything”? They do have the right to test for anything. Just like the NFL can test their players for anything. Bottom line, he wasnt thrown out for Claritin and its not a conspiracy against Jeremy Mayfield. I’ll bet Jeremy hopes it doesnt get out.
“Bottom line, he wasnt thrown out for Claritin and its not a conspiracy against Jeremy Mayfield. I’ll bet Jeremy hopes it doesnt get out. “
Again, you make statements of fact.
OK, so Jeremy wasn’t thrown out for Claritin. Then what was he thrown out for? And what exactly is he hoping “doesn’t get out”?
You claim that you were a spotter for years and that you still have friends that are. Are you getting your information from someone on the inside?
Yes. I will not name names though. Its no secret in the garage area when someone gets in trouble. The fraternity is tight and word spreads pretty quick.
I’m positive some in the media already know what it is, but cant report it because they cant get official verification. Hunter, Dr Black and others will not verify the drug in the name of privacy for Jeremy.
http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/news/story?id=4167695
Maybe this is proof there is no list for drivers.
Wow that’s really interesting Spotter22. Hopefully the truth will eventually come out…
http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/news/story?id=4167695
Maybe this is proof there is no list for drivers.
Posted by armywifelong on 05/14 at 07:38 PM
The drivers go by the same list. They just can just be tested for more than the list has on it. Vickers and Newman have Dr Blacks phone number and can reach him anytime if they have a question.
“Yes. I will not name names though. Its no secret in the garage area when someone gets in trouble. The fraternity is tight and word spreads pretty quick.
I’m positive some in the media already know what it is, but cant report it because they cant get official verification. Hunter, Dr Black and others will not verify the drug in the name of privacy for Jeremy. “
That’s all well and good, but since you apparently know that Jeremy didn’t get pinched for Clairitin, *what* did he get busted for? You don’t have to “name names” to let us know what drug was in his system.
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