NASCAR testing takes into account legitimate health concerns, toxicologist says
Sprint Cup Series owner/driver Jeremy Mayfield has been suspended by NASCAR for violating its drug policy. // David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
NASCAR reviews all positive drug tests to determine whether there was a legitimate need for a person to have a certain amount of any drug in his system, and driver/owner Jeremy Mayfield tested positive for a “drug of great concern to NASCAR,” NASCAR’s consultant, Dr. David Black, said Monday.
Black is an internationally recognized forensic toxicologist and president of Aegis Sciences Corp., which conducts the testing for NASCAR and is one of the largest independent sports doping test laboratories in the world. He has worked with NASCAR officials in creation of its drug-testing program.
Neither NASCAR officials nor Black would name the drug that Mayfield tested positive for earlier this month that resulted in the indefinite suspension NASCAR handed out on Saturday.
Mayfield, in a statement issued by his team, said he believed a mix of prescription and over-the-counter drugs resulted in the positive test.
“We had a drug of great concern to NASCAR,” Black said in a phone interview Monday. “In all my experience, a combination of over-the-counter drug plus a prescription drug would not have necessarily caused this positive test result.
“I’m very confident and comfortable with the action taken.”
Mayfield was the first driver penalized under NASCAR’s new policy for this year, which includes tests of random drivers and crew members each week. NASCAR also can also test anytime, anywhere, for reasonable cause, which was its previous policy.
“There is a review for any test result to determine any legitimate medical need on the part of a participant...,” said Black. “We’re not dealing with a very difficult issue here with regard to what might affect someone’s driving and certainly would be a concern for NASCAR. We would only take action if indeed we found the presence of a drug that would adversely affect someone’s performance.”
Mayfield, like anyone who tests positive, will receive a letter defining the reinstatement process, Black said. The process includes an assessment from a health-care professional who specializes in the field of substance abuse, and that professional will then recommend a rehabilitation plan.
The health-care professional’s recommendation takes into consideration whether an incident was a one-time use of a drug or if an addiction is involved, Black said.
“Depending on the drug and depending upon the type of treatment and counseling recommended, there will come a point in time when it will be considered whether or not I would be able to recommend them to be considered for reinstatement,” Black said. “It would be dependent upon their successful adherence to any program established and also successful passing of all follow-up drug testing.”
Several NASCAR team members and drivers have checked with Black about whether their prescription medication would result in a positive test, he said.
“There’s been a lot of pro-active behavior on the part of the individuals covered by the policy,” Black said. “We’ve seen a lot of conversation, a lot of calls coming in asking in advance what might or might not be allowed. … We are concerned, of course, about any medication - over-the-counter or by prescription or illegal - that could adversely affect driving.”
Aegis has run “many hundreds” of tests for NASCAR this year, said Black, who indicated he did not enter this year thinking a driver would test positive by a certain point in the season.
“I don’t think I came into the program with any expectation about a specific timing element,” Black said. “The purpose of any program such as this is deterrence and to try to ensure that people do not engage in behavior that would be detrimental.
“I don’t think I’m ever surprised to find that we have positive outcomes. No matter what population or group of people is subjected to testing, we always have positive findings. It’s just always a matter of time. … NASCAR has a very strong and effective program, but it is a program that is fair, and when action is taken, it’s necessary action to enforce a strong program.”
