Since this whole Jeremy Mayfield mess came to light last Friday, I’ve debated whether or not I wanted to comment about the situation. We’ve already written about the drug situation and testing here, here, and here. The third link in that list points to a post where I basically said the testing was no big deal, and it didn’t really bother me. Well something has happened now, and I’m bothered by the testing. Well, maybe not so much by the testing itself, but rather NASCAR’s policies and procedures surrounding the testing.
A rumor that has been floating around is that Mayfield’s use of the over-the-counter allergy remedy Claritin D may have played a part in his failed test. I don’t know personally if it is true or not, and frankly I don’t care. What bothers me is something I found in an article on ESPN.com.
NASCAR’s substance abuse policy administrator, Dr. David Black, was asked about the Claritin D issue. Here is his response:
Black said Claritin D is among the substances tested for, but he would not confirm whether that was the drug Mayfield used.
“I will say we have a threshold from something like Claritin D, so it’s a drug of concern,” Black said. “It could be that if an individual used Claritin D to excess that would be reason for action.”
Black said Claritin D can cause everything from a high heart rate to anxiety to a drastic change in body temperature.
“That would not be good for anybody driving,” he said.
The first time I read that, I didn’t think much about it. Then I read it again. They are testing for Claritin D? I use Claritin D.
Then the fear started creaping into my system.
Now, before we get hysterical, I am a rational human being. I understand the issue with this specific OTC remedy is the pseudoephedrine that is in it. I also know that pseudoephedrine, if used improperly can be used to get high and make methamphetamine. But Dr. Black’s comment about there being a “threshold” for something like this concerns me. A lot.
The natural question becomes, what exactly is the threshold? How much Claritin D do I have to take before it triggers a positive drug test?
The problem is I don’t know the answer to any of these questions. And I don’t know where to go to get them answered.
Since the beginning of their new testing policy, NASCAR has refused to release a list of what they are testing drivers for. They did release a short list of substances for crew members, but it isn’t specific and it says nothing about amounts. This didn’t bother me at first, as most of this appears to be narcotics and performance-enhancing drugs. No problem.
Now I find out they are testing for OTC drugs that I thought were completely safe to use. So if they are testing for Claritin D, what else are they testing for that we aren’t sure about?
As a NASCAR licensee and hard card holder, I’ve suddenly realized that my career could be in serious jeopardy because I don’t know what I can and can’t use. I’m not a doctor, and I’m not up on what is against the rules and what isn’t. I’m certainly not using any performance enhancers, and I don’t use recreational drugs, but this really scares me.
Even worse, is if I did happen to test positive, there is no recourse or appeal process after the suspension is handed down. I’m suspended, NASCAR announces it to the world, and I’m left with no options and a reputation that is forever destroyed.
If NASCAR is going to go big with a testing policy like the NFL, MLB, and NBA, they need to follow those bodies’ lead.
It is imperative that NASCAR publishes a detailed list for both drivers and crew members, and gives us a way to find out what we can and can’t take. If they need help, look at the NFL. They’ve got a hotline that can be called by players if they aren’t sure if something is legal or illegal.
Unfortunately, acting as they normally do, I don’t foresee NASCAR changing their policy and providing us with detailed lists for drivers and crew members. But hopefully somebody important happens to read this post, and maybe some pressure from the fans and the media will force NASCAR into giving these lists.
It’s just too important not to.
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on May 11th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
I’m sure NASCAR will clarify their drug testing rules rule by announcing that they have banned all substances that are “detrimental to stock car racing”. Not ambiguous and open to interpretation… at all!
on May 12th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Wow TC you better be careful of the Bayer Asprin you take. If NASCAR wants to have a drug testing policy that works they need to disclose what they are testing for. Testing for over the counter drugs is nothing new, but they need to disclose what they are testing for. As an example, NASCAR needs to say hey were testing for Bayer Asprin, do not exceed the recomended dosage or you may test positive. This way you know not to exceed 8 asprin a day. Or maybe they need to say if you don’t have prescription from your doctor, you may test positive. I don’t feel it’s morally right for NASCAR to test blindly.
Just think what would happen if Dale Jr was taking some Nyquol so he could sleep due to an illness of some type, do you think they would kick him out of NASCAR,,,, No I don’t think so. What about Jeff, Jimmy or even Carl. Noooo I don’t think NASCAR would suspend them either. It would be kept very quite, NASCAR may talk to them, but no they would not be suspended. This is just one of the NASCAR bias we will continue to see. If your not one of the NASCAR Goldeb boys you need to be careful of what you take to feel better. It’s all about money. NASCAR needs to come clean an provide every team a list of do’s and don’ts
Sorry these are just my feelings.
on May 12th, 2009 at 12:37 am
TC you need to read the story on Jayski regarding NASCAR Drug testing policy. It says it all. this could be going to court if mayfeild want to.
on May 12th, 2009 at 1:21 am
Wow. I’m sure everything is spelled out clearly in the rule book that is freely available for public review…oh, wait.
on May 12th, 2009 at 8:11 am
By not publishing a list of what is allowed it’s just another was Nascar has created to adjust the rules to protect who they want and get rid of who they want.
I totally agree with SteveC, Dale Jr. or Jimmie Johnson could light up a joint in Mike Helton’s office and would not be suspended. They are the face of Nascar, and Nascar makes money because people want to see them. How many Jeremy Mayfield fans are there 20? 25 max.
What happened to Mayfield is a joke, he got railroaded. I’d love to see him drag Nascar into court. Maybe it he won he could become the CEO, I’d rather have him than Brian France.
What absolutely blows my mind is that drivers and crew members can receive a lifetime ban for taking an over the counter medication that Nascar obviously approves of. We see that damn Claritin commercial at least 10 times a race. AND it portrays Carl Edwards being able to drive his race car BECAUSE HE TOOK CLARITIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brian France, if I say what I really think of you T.C. and Journo won’t allow my comment so I’ll just say I hope the fleas of 1000 camels invade your underwear drawer. You are a boil on the butt of humanity. You are not a God, you are not a king. You are a spoiled little moron who fell ass backward into your job and is destroying everything your family worked to build.
on May 12th, 2009 at 9:07 am
You have to be very careful. Even due diligence won’t protect you with major league sport’s vague banned substance guidelines. J.C. Romero case in point.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3812334
He checked with his nutritionist, got a second opinion from another nutritionist, & the Phills’ conditioning coach. They all cleared it saying there were no substances banned by the MLB in it. There were no warning labels on the supplement purchased at GNC (which subsequently placed warning labels on the supplement that the substance may be banned by governments & some sports leagues).
This guy is by no means juicing & is very aware of MLB’s steroid crackdown & wants to ensure he is not violating any policy & he still gets the 50 game suspension because he was not willing to admit guilt & plea down to a lesser suspension.
My suggestion, don’t take anything if you want to keep your job.
on May 12th, 2009 at 9:36 am
1. I agree that NASCAR should disclose the drugs and amounts that are deemed a no-no.
2. I agree that NASCAR rules w/ a iron fist, and…
3. I agree that certain drivers are granted immunity.
I do, however, wonder why….
1. Mayfield hasn’t found another profession?
2. Fans don’t realize that a post serious (maybe fatal) wreck investigation where findings unearth any drug presence in a driver or crew would leave all saying, “why did NASCAR allow this person(s) to be in an event and position of high potential danger?” He wrecked “MY” driver while on drugs!
4. do so many people feel they really need those ridiculous energy drinks to perform? Amazing!
3. and lastly, why NASCAR didn’t indefinitely suspend Matt Kennseth after the Talladega w/e, not for substance abuse, but for just plain stupid driving? In both races no less!
on May 12th, 2009 at 10:02 am
I, for one am sick and tired of all the secrecy in NASCAR. Their drug policy was not properly explained or approached, hence the secrecy. They just hastened to adopt one because of recent events. If these people are on the up and up, get it out in the open. If they have something to hide, they will end up in court anyway.
on May 12th, 2009 at 10:05 am
“What absolutely blows my mind is that drivers and crew members can receive a lifetime ban for taking an over the counter medication that Nascar obviously approves of. We see that damn Claritin commercial at least 10 times a race. AND it portrays Carl Edwards being able to drive his race car BECAUSE HE TOOK CLARITIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Excellent point Bobby#7fan.
on May 12th, 2009 at 10:45 am
I agree, this is quite serious. They should come out and say Mayfield used this and thats why we suspended him and it should be something stronger than Claritan D. Also, if their not willing to tell the fans, then they should at least make it clear to the teams each year before we wiz in that little plastic cup.
on May 12th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Is there some kind of known combination of medicines, including Clartin D, that can offer the same effects, although legal, that illegal drugs offer? Could this be why NASCAR is including Claritin D in the drug tests? Does NASCAR advise drivers with a known physical ailment not to take certain meds within a few days before a race?
There are too many unanswered questions about the NASCAR testing policy. If Mayfield chooses to file a lawsuit, do you think that NASCAR would settle or pursue a trial? The trial would mean that many of the secrets of the drug tests would be revealed. The next few weeks should be interesting.
on May 12th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I know crewmen have a list of the banned substances.
And I know that Sudafed is also on the list.
The few that I know, don’t take anything, to be safe. (Easy on the caps – T.C.)
on May 12th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
I also believe that NASCAR should be responsible for releasing a list of what they are testing for. If you are a person being tested, it is your “right” to be notified for what they are looking for.
If you were to go into drug testing for any other job, they would provide a list of medications they are looking for and would also inform you that you need to list certain items that you have consumed that are legal and available over the counter. (i.e. Tylenol, poppy seeds, etc.)
Someone inquired as to whether Claritin D mixed with other over the counter medicine can produce a “false positive” and the answer is yes. Any lab tech can confirm that. I realize that there has been a statement released on another NASCAR information website that contradicts that but, from the information I have read, their information is not accurate.
T.C. I understand your concern. If there is an email that we can bombard with our beliefs that the list be released, please post it. The list may never be released to the general public, however, it should at least be released to those who are being tested.
on May 12th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
So what happens when Jeff Gordon has to have surgery on his back? No anasthesia or pain medication?
I don’t believe there is an employee or fan that is surprised by this crap. They have gone too far(over and over again). Eventually Nascar is going to alienate everyone; even the drivers and crews not to mention the fans.
Whether Jeremy Mayfield has not anything wrong or not is irrelevant at this point. It’s all about Nascar’s inability to play fair.
on May 12th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
“My suggestion, don’t take anything if you want to keep your job.”
Excellent advice, Licker.
I’ll add: Don’t ever under any circumstances eat a poppyseed bagel.
on May 12th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Monday night on PRN Elliott Sadler said that all the drivers have Dr. Black’s cell phone number and can call him whenever they have a question about a particular medicine – and on ESPN Ricky Craven said there was a medical liason person at the track the last time he ran a Cup race (2004? 2005?) who was able to answer his question about taking an over-the-counter allergy medicine before a race.
There are privacy and legal issues about what Aegis or NASCAR can release about the results of the tests on Jeremy Mayfield – but I have not seen anywhere that there is any restriction on Jeremy’s releasing the report he received from NASCAR. There are far too many people in the media who have a definite anti-NASCAR bias and are determined to find fault in anything NASCAR does.
on May 12th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Let’s look at this one item at a time. NOT ONE DRIVER has supported Jeremy over NASCAR. I watched Nascar Now and Andy Petree was glad that an abuser was caught. The lab, Aegis Labs, has gotten a lot of support from drivers.
I find it interesting that reporters/bloggers, whose life is not at risk, want to give a drug abuser a pass. On the other hand, drivers who are at risk, applaud the system and are glad the policy is working.
The first sentance in Jeremy’s statement was that he “immensly supported ” NASCAR’s current policy and procedures. Then he admitted that what he took was why he was supended from the garage. Now of course he wants all to believe that 2 drugs he took morphed into a banned substance.
So, Jeremy does not blame NASCAR nor does he blame the Lab for producing a false positive. He just says he can explain it.
Ricky Craven and Elliott Sadler have said that every driver has a number to call to verify they can take a certain medication. Ricky said he called to check on taking Claritin D and he was given the okay to take it. Elliott said that every driver has Dr Black’s cell phone number.
So, Jeremy is not dennying he tested positive, he just has an explanation, which does not matter. He had a phone number, he knew the rules (good grief he just had a team member caught) and he still took “something.”
If he sticks to his story, he will have to find a forensic scientist with a PhD, just like Dr Black, to say that what he did morphed into a controlled drug. I say good luck.
on May 12th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
The D in Claritin D is the problem, it’s got ephedrine in it, ephedrine at a high enough level is evidently a banned substance (ephedrine can be turned into Meth so it makes sense to me). TC my recommendation to you is if the cold/allergy medicine is behind the counter it has ephedrine it so beware. I get there isn’t a list because there are always new drugs on the market and a list is a easy way for a savey manipulators to aviod getting in hot water but more importantly a hard card holder could take something that had not made the list yet a then fail the test. Perhaps Jeremy was using the more is better approach to his allergy issues, again not a good idea. Hopefully that is all it is. Perhaps Nascar/ Dr. Black can give an Example list so you guys can get a better understanding of what commonplace drugs can get you in trouble.
Hopefully Jeremy and any of the crewman who have issues due to ignorace can have their lives put back together. The one problem with this is that benefit of the doubt is not an option and banned substance is a banned substance because for every guy who oops there is another one who knew exactly what was in it and that’s why he took it. Kind of like the alcoholic who drinks mouthwash solely for the alcohol content.
on May 12th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
There have been quite a few comments to this post, which is great. But I want to respond to a little theme I see in a few of them.
Keep in mind that my post doesn’t take a stance either way on Mayfield’s situation. I used the post to voice my concerns about the drug testing policies that stemmed from his positive test, but I’m not siding either way. I don’t personally know what he took or why he tested positive. If he was on something he shouldn’t have been on, then obviously he deserves to be punished. I am a crew member who is on pit road every weekend, and I don’t want a driver on something to come barreling down pit road at me.
I also don’t have a problem with NASCAR. In most cases, they do a good job of running the sport. I certainly don’t have a vendetta against them, but if I see something I don’t agree with, I’m going to use this as a forum to put my opinions out there and open it for reader discussion. In this case, I would like to see the rules be a little more clear about what is right and wrong, and I would like there to be resources available to me if I have questions. At this point, I don’t feel either has or is happening.
on May 12th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Two words: Tim Richmond.
Younger fans, look it up. Us older fans know. NASCAR has been caught red-handed lying about a drug test before, then changed there story to the “over the counter” argument.
Don’t ever believe what you are told. Hell, not even this post. Research it for yourself. Read the book about Tim by David Poole, as well as many other valid, documented articles.
on May 12th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Good ol’ Tim Richmond. There will never be another like him that’s for sure……. I wonder if any copies of that infamous poster still exist? I bet they are worth some money. LOL
on May 13th, 2009 at 3:42 am
T.C. You might be reading more into what Dr. Black said than is neeed and it’s led you down the wrong path.
I believe Black was reacting to Mayfield’s admission to his use of Claritin D. What is the more likely substance tested for is the drugs ingredient, pseudoephedrine.
Pseudoephedrine in the body can cause sleeplessness, nervousness, excitability, dizziness and anxiety. And keep in mind allegedly it was taken with another drug given to him by a doctor.
The problem now is NASCAR’s lack of a specific list of drugs that are banned and those that can give a false positive.
For example, Motrin, Bayer Select Pain Relief Formula or Excedrin can pop a false positive for Marijuana.
Nyquil, Contact, Sudafed (also known as Claritin D), Allerest and Dimetapp can all turn up as Ecstacy or Amphetamine usage.
Special note to “Dano” you and the rest of the conspiracy theorists you can stick that junk where the sun don’t shine.
NASCAR doesn’t administer the test and have no say in how they are given.
Aegis Labs has total control of the program and is the largest independent sports, forensic and clinical toxicology testing laboratory in the United States.
If any of you conspiracy nuts thinks they would risk their reputation and a multi-million dollar business to produce fake results, or use results to single out certain people at NASCAR’s direction you nuttier than a Snickers Bar.
on May 13th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Marc, if you think Nascar does not protect it’s superstars and make examples of the B-list drivers you must not have been a race fan for very long. Nascar is not risking a reputation of fairness because that is not a reputation they have. By not allowing anyone to know what is on the list they have the ability to manipulate results.
on May 13th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Having been a NASCAR fan since the hemi days, I well know that NASCAR is not perfect and has made mistakes. However, in the past few years it has become the standard media line to criticze NASCAR for everything, maybe because it makes for better headlines. If the current NASCAR drug testing system is so clearly faulty, why did no one from the major media outlets criticize the system last year when it was announced? As I recall, at that time the media was too busy criticizing NASCAR for not having done something more about drug testing sooner.
TC, have you heard anything that NASCAR is planning to make more information available to the teams about the testing system and banned substances or maybe hold workshops?