NASCAR: Independent lab verified Mayfield test results
By Bob Pockrass – Associate Editor
Monday, June 29, 2009
In a brief filed in U.S. District Court on Monday night, NASCAR contends that a test of Jeremy Mayfield’s urine samples at a second laboratory proved that the suspended owner/driver had an illegal drug in his system.
Mayfield and NASCAR are scheduled to be in U.S. District Court in Charlotte on Wednesday for the hearing on Mayfield's request for an injunction seeking to stop the sanctioning body from suspending him until the driver's suit can be heard by the court. NASCAR filed its brief Monday night in response to Mayfield’s brief in support of the injunction request filed Thursday.
Mayfield has argued that his May 1 test produced a false positive reading for methamphetamines, according to court documents. He contends the findings resulted from a combination of prescription drug Adderall, which is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and over-the-counter Claritin-D allergy medicine. NASCAR, which has not named the illegal drug it says Mayfield used, has asserted that could not be the case.
NASCAR states in its filing Monday that the prescription for Adderall that Mayfield supplied to NASCAR did not come from his primary physician but from the “Vitality Anti-Aging Center & Medical Spa.”
In its filing Monday, NASCAR indicated that it has tested Mayfield’s specimen samples by a lab independent of Aegis Laboratories, which, according to documents filed with the court, has a three-year contract to administer the NASCAR drug-testing program. NASCAR states in its brief that it sent the untested portion of the A and B samples to Medtox Laboratories in St. Paul, Minn.
“Medtox … confirmed the presence of [drug name redacted] in both Mayfield’s A and B samples,” NASCAR states in its brief.
Mayfield’s experts, in earlier filings, state that because seals were broken on the A and B samples for the original tests done by Aegis, that the results are compromised. NASCAR disputes that argument in its filings.
NASCAR also argues that Mayfield doesn’t need an injunction because if there are merits to his case, he can be compensated for damages. It also states that Mayfield’s team could still compete with a different driver, which it did for two weeks after Mayfield was suspended May 9.
“While [Mayfield and his team] have not suffered, and will not suffer, any harm that could not be compensated through a monetary award, reversing the suspension would create a real and serious risk of injury or death to others...,” NASCAR states.“Not surprisingly, many drivers are unwilling to risk their lives racing with someone who tested positive for [drug name redacted], a mind-altering substance that diminishes the ability to safely drive a race car.
“If other drivers refuse to race, it will harm the relationships that NASCAR has developed with its drivers, fans, sponsors and broadcasters over the last sixty years.”
NASCAR has countersued Mayfield for breaching his agreements with the sanctioning body, which, NASCAR says, require him to inform officials about any changes in his health (Mayfield began taking the Adderall in March) and for allegedly violating the substance-abuse policy.
“No one but Mayfield knows whether his [drug name redacted] use was an isolated event,” NASCAR states in its brief. “But it is indisputable that (i) [the drug] is a highly addictive drug, (ii) Mayfield has been using amphetamines daily for months, and (iii) Mayfield raced at Richmond, where he crashed into a wall, under the influence of amphetamines, which he admits he ingested right before the race.
“The safety risk is simply too significant to let Mayfield back on the track.”
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9 responses to "NASCAR: Independent lab verified Mayfield test results". Post a Comment.
OSUSam said:
Jun 29, 2009 at 9:22 PMWill this story EVER go away?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSS396Chevelle said:
Jun 29, 2009 at 9:27 PMOnly when Mayfield goes broke with attorney fees. Nascar will see to that.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Jun 30, 2009 at 6:04 AMnascar like city hall, can't fight someone with power. i hope mayfield wins this battle. maybe the bunch running nascar needs testing. the doctors have half the country on drugs. just think of all the ones you know who are taking drugs from doctors who mix all kinds togeather. lets take the drivers out if they hit the wall. i might be high on something ,probally just blood pressure.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Jun 30, 2009 at 8:14 AMHe's a druggie...FACE IT!
Report as AbuseLike all druggies, they THINK they can beat the system. Guess what, they can't!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbad_medicine2 said:
Jun 30, 2009 at 3:52 PMhey, lets just give all of them heroin and see how they do eh? Hope mayfield wins... you are a joke you know that? No way should that drug using clown wim, he is history, rightfully so.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbthompson133 said:
Jun 30, 2009 at 6:02 PMthe drug czsars have spoken
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» Confirm Abuse Reportctjeepinguy said:
Jun 30, 2009 at 8:23 PMI think Track owners and Nascar should forse fans to clean up after themselves in the grandstands, parking lots, camping areas etc. Mayfield is no more a problem than the rest of us, think about it.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCCCANNON said:
Jul 1, 2009 at 5:46 AMI think NAZICAR should drug test the fans.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmayhemracing said:
Jul 1, 2009 at 7:43 AMMedtox is a direct competitor with the lab that I work for and we often use them as a reference facility. There is no way that Medtox would run these samples without the proper chain of custody intact. If the chain of custody protocols were followed correctly, it doesn't matter that the seals on the original samples were broken. The attorneys for Mayfield better have their ducks in a row if they think they are going to use that argument to get him off the hook. So far, their best argument is that no defined list of banned substances exists in Nascar's drug policy. That isn't really even a good argument since Methamphetamine is an illicit drug and is illegal with or without the "list". Even if he was legitimately given the medical form of methamphetamine (Desoxyn)for his ADHD, which is unlikely unless other drugs such as Ritalin have failed, he shouldn't be behind the wheel of a racecar while under the influence of the substance....period. Since he didn't disclose being prescribed Desoxyn, I don't think he has a valid case. Just my opinion, though.
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