NASCAR sends Jeremy Mayfield's sample to independent lab
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Monday, June 29, 2009
Court documents show that NASCAR has had suspended owner/driver Jeremy Mayfield’s urine sample tested at a second lab in addition to the one that allegedly found initial evidence of an illegal substance.
According to documents filed in Mayfield’s lawsuit seeking to have his suspension lifted, NASCAR sent Mayfield’s urine sample to MedTox Laboratories, which completed an analysis Thursday morning of two specimens. The results of the analysis, as well as the name of the person whose urine was tested, are blacked out or not listed, but it would be highly unlikely that NASCAR would submit a test result to the court that didn’t back up its previous assertion that Mayfield had an illegal drug in his system when tested May 1.
Mayfield has argued that the test produced a false positive for methamphetamines, the result of 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 drug, has asserted that could not be the case.
Mayfield’s lawyers have argued that earlier backup test results should be declared invalid because the test was performed by the same lab that issued the initial finding. Aegis Laboratories, which administers NASCAR’s drug-testing program from its Tennessee headquarters, conducted both of those initial tests. Mayfield has argued that under federal agency drug-testing guidelines, backup tests should be administered by independent second parties.
The driver’s legal team has also argued in court filings that NASCAR couldn’t have a proper test done on the May 1 sample because the seal had been broken on the samples to conduct the earlier tests that resulted in Mayfield’s indefinite suspension May 9.
“Assuming that sample bottle B could [have been] delivered to the second laboratory, the integrity of the process has been compromised by the opening of the sample container and the removal of a portion of the urine sample for analysis,” said Dr. Harry Plotnick, an expert for Mayfield.
Dr. David Black, president of Aegis, stated in an affidavit filed Thursday night that the urine was still suitable for testing.
“Since their delivery to Aegis, the Jeremy Mayfield A- and B-samples have remained under Aegis’s custody and control, except that portion sent to MedTox Laboratories for reconfirmation testing,” Black said in his affidavit. “The samples have at all time remained stored consistent with accredited forensic sample storage procedures and have not been adulterated.
“While the seals on the A- and B-samples have been broken to permit testing of the urine that they contain, sufficient unadulterated samples remain to confirm Aegis’s test results.”
The MedTox results were filed among exhibits submitted in preparation for a Wednesday hearing in U.S. District Court in Charlotte, where the court will hear arguments on Mayfield’s request for a preliminary injunction to keep NASCAR from enforcing the suspension.
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19 responses to "NASCAR sends Jeremy Mayfield's sample to independent lab". Post a Comment.
Flying Squirrel said:
Jun 29, 2009 at 10:18 AMMayfield's urine is seeing more of the country than I am this summer!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportipopthethekeg said:
Jun 29, 2009 at 11:26 AMHow do you say washed up? Jeremy Mayfield. I heard Wal Mart is hiring. You stunk as a race car driver anyway.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Jun 29, 2009 at 12:56 PMEvery drug test I've ever taken for a job has given me the opportunity to list prescription and/or over the counter drugs that I have taken over a specified period of time. Why didn't he tell them what he was taking...it would have solved a lot of problems.
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» Confirm Abuse Report4wide said:
Jun 29, 2009 at 2:34 PMJeremy Mayfield and Teresa Earnhardt to have a car in the 2010 Indy 500. What a combo. Chip will advise them
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdebdawg007 said:
Jun 29, 2009 at 3:16 PMJeremy didn't think things through. Even if his version is true, 1) the ADD drug he was taking is banned by EVERY major sports governing body on the planet as an extremely powerful performance enhancing drug. It is a PED if you read up on it could in fact be useful for a race car driver. 2) I believe a stock car could qualify as heavy machinery. He was taking 2 Claritan D's. A drug that if you take more than the recommended dosage of 1 in 24 hours can make you drowsy and unable to operate heavy machinery safely.
Report as AbuseI have a neighbor who is a school counselor and f-i-l who is a cop and I've been told by both that kids can and do use over-the-counter legal meds like Claritan D in combination with other perfectly legal items such as Red Bull and they get high.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Jun 29, 2009 at 3:31 PMThis is me from the Joey Logano article!
Report as AbuseI find it interesting that they stated no futher testing was allowed, nor necessary, and now they send it to another lab. Sketchy.
I have always wondered what makes a person want to take drugs? I guess it is the same thing that makes homosexuals and gay marrige occure.
Jermy, you need to get yourself out of here!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Jun 29, 2009 at 4:02 PMJeremy is gay ?? LOL
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» Confirm Abuse Report21801 said:
Jun 29, 2009 at 4:14 PMcertain drug test are for illegal drugs. It depends on which panel test is done. I've had a 10 panel test which detacts alcohol in your blood. However, all drugs prescribed or illegal are pick up. Caffine shows up.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportctjeepinguy said:
Jun 29, 2009 at 5:51 PM# 6 is an idiot, low I Q from in breeding.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Jun 29, 2009 at 6:54 PMWell Jeep guy from CT... Low IQ from "in breeding" ?? You appear a bit too familiar about "in breeding".. Can we assume it's first-hand knowledge from your family ?
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgrumpyjim52 said:
Jun 30, 2009 at 5:41 PMEphedrine in an over the counter decongestant can give a false positive for Meth, since they are very closely related.
Report as AbuseThere should have been a second urine test by another lab when Mayfeild stated using a prescription drug combination with a decongestant.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmayhemracing said:
Jul 1, 2009 at 10:07 AMEphedrine will NOT give a false positive for Meth. I have done this type of testing for over 20 years and it is simply not possible for that to happen. Sorry #11, but you are completely incorrect. Oh, and it is common practice to have another lab do testing on samples when the results of one lab is questioned. It isn't the least bit sketchy to do so.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbthompson133 said:
Jul 1, 2009 at 12:53 PM#12 aren't the samples supposed to be untouched? gettin sketchy all the time. btw i don't like mayfield but hate injustice!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmayhemracing said:
Jul 1, 2009 at 2:24 PMActually, that is a valid question #13. I will try to explain the chain of custody process and maybe it will be clearer to understand how it all works. A kit is supplied to the collection facility that includes collection container(s), seals that are placed on the samples after collection, and all necessary paper forms that need to be completely filled out for each and every person who comes into contact with the specimen. The chain starts by the person collecting the specimen signing and completing all patient info on the chain of custody forms. This person places a seal on the container and signs that seal along with a witness. Once the bottle is sealed, it is placed in a box inside a sealed bag along with the paperwork and sent to the testing lab. When the lab receives the sample, all people who come into contact with the sample sign when they are in possession of it. Once the seal is broken on the original specimen container, a portion (aka an aliquot)is removed for testing. Any extra left over from the testing tube is discarded and may not be used again. Once all testing is complete, the testing lab seals the original container which is signed and dated by the person sealing it. If a sample needs to be forwarded to another lab for further testing, an aliquot is removed from the original container, sealed in a bag and sent on to the other lab. The original bottle of sample is resealed again and remains at the original testing lab. All the while this process is unfolding, the "chain" of who has possession of the sample must remain intact. The whole process has very stringent guidelines that must be followed due to the legal ramifications involved. The first thing attorneys do is try to find a flaw in the chain of custody process as a way to discredit the lab and have the results thrown out of court. So,in answer to your question, the original specimen remains intact at all times, but as long as the chain is not broken, portions may be removed for further testing.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportKadach said:
Jul 1, 2009 at 5:59 PMSenior Judge Graham Mullen just lifted Jeremy's suspension, he can race at Daytona
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCSGAS said:
Jul 2, 2009 at 12:52 AMI would like to thank all the foolish bashers, flamers, and freaks who made baseless and uninformed accusations, insults, and bizarre or even unreal statements about Jeremy during this time so far.
Report as AbuseYou've made it so easy for Bill Diehl to document the impact NASCAR's false-doping accusations have on an innocent driver's career and image.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjupiterthunder said:
Jul 2, 2009 at 3:37 PM#3, According to JM's original filing, he made the disclosure you reference to the collector who instructed him to make the disclosure to Dr. Black. On doing so, Black questioned the legitimacy of an adult taking an ADHD medication which extended to his discounting Adderall XR as the reason for the positive test. What is unclear is if Black did not believe that JM was taking it at all or if he was, at the time, of the belief that if JM was taking it, he was taking it illegitimately.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Jul 2, 2009 at 8:22 PMCSGAS #16, what's changed ?? We've always felt that way about loser Mayfield. Just because he's getting more attention now doesn't mean that it's new or anything... He's always been a big disappointment to the NASCAR fans. Just a pathetic piece of &#$* !
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» Confirm Abuse Reportfast3forme said:
Jul 3, 2009 at 12:00 AMAegis broke the seal on both samples, but said they forwarded "unadulterated" samples to another lab. They also stated Homer Simpson is responsible for all chain of custody and sample handling when Ramsey's busy. That's why his shirt is always a little yellow. Why you little..... DOH
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