300 replies to this topic

[OfficeLinebacker]

Wow! We've had a few crew members of smaller teams and members of lower series crews suspended. However for a driver, and a multiple race winner at that, to fail a post-race drug test is BIG news. Apparently a crew member of the #34 Cup team and a member of the #16 Nationwide series also are suspended indefinitely.

But Jeremy Mayfield?

Let the speculation begin: what was the banned substance? A stimulant? A steroid? Weed?

I've heard that some OTC supplements like Hydroxycut can produce a positive result.

[Madras]

Who?

[Rob]

Mayfield suspended for substance abuse violation

[BMW_F1]

Was this NASCAR's secret announcement at 6 PM?

[Phucaigh]

What an idiot, he was getting things going with his new team and then shoots himself in the foot and the tyres with a failed drug test.
Guess thats the end of him in NASCAR.

[Rob]

What an idiot, he was getting things going with his new team and then shoots himself in the foot and the tyres with a failed drug test.
Guess thats the end of him in NASCAR.

I'd imagine so. Under the terms of the ban, he's not allowed to be an owner or a driver. Hopefully someone will buy the team from him.

[Blythy]

Let the speculation begin: what was the banned substance? A stimulant? A steroid? Weed?

it was clearly speed

[Slowinfastout]

Without the details it's hard to tell who's being idiotic..

[OfficeLinebacker]

Was this NASCAR's secret announcement at 6 PM?

Yes, indeed. Most people thought it had to do with Scott Speed taking over the #87 ride but this was a huge bombshell.

What is the FIA's doping policy?

[Rob]

What is the FIA's doping policy?

Not certain. Tomas Enge was disqualified from the last race of the 2002 F3000 season after testing positive and this subsequently cost him the championship. He's raced in sports cars and the IRL afterwards.

[OfficeLinebacker]

Not certain. Tomas Enge was disqualified from the last race of the 2002 F3000 season after testing positive and this subsequently cost him the championship. He's raced in sports cars and the IRL afterwards.

Do we know what he tested positive for?

Also back "in the day" weren't there F1 drivers who pretty openly smoked weed? I know in NASCAR, amphetamine use was rampant in the 60s and probably even later, and several stars (Curtis Turner for one) would drive drunk, either due to staying up all night or hair of the dog action. Presumably they were also on large amounts of speed.

I mean this thread to be a discussion of doping policy and drugs in motorsport in general.

[Rob]

Do we know what he tested positive for?

Enge tested positive for marijuana.

[midgrid]

What is the FIA's doping policy?

Aside from Enge, FIA GT Championship driver Luca Moro was given a two-year ban after failing a drugs test in 2006.

[OfficeLinebacker]

Enge tested positive for marijuana.

That's what I thought.

In the rarefied air of F1, I imagine two things influence things to make a positive test less probable:

a) the amount of sacrifice and ambition necessary to get into F1 mean much less willingness to risk it or even distract one's self with partying on the way up
b) each driver has much more individual attention in terms of physios, diets, etc. so the things they take into their bodies are much more closely monitored by experts

[pingu666]

funny thing is weed is a performance debilitating drug, in athletic terms

[travbrad]

I think that's pretty ridiculous. I can see if he was smoking marjuana right before driving or something (for safety reasons), but it's not like smoking marijuana a week before a race is going to impair your judgment/reaction times. It certainly won't give you a sporting advantage in any case. Red cars may go faster, but red eyes don't

I can see how something like speed may give you an edge in some respects (especially in a 24hr race), but it can also make you overconfident which could be a bad thing in a race (trying to pass where it's not possible, or just going over the limit). We freakin' prescribe our KIDS speed, yet it' somehow "bad" when used in sport I guess..

As for the F1 drivers, I can't imagine them wanting to use even steroids, with them needing to be so light/lean. On that note, should Danica be allowed to use steroids? She is naturally less able to build muscle, being a woman.

Should people be allowed to get lasek eye surgery or contacts/glasses? After all they are enhancing their abilities "unnaturally". Aren't vitamins/supplements an "unnatural advantage" as well since they are extracted in pure form? Cocaine is every bit as natural as vitamins.

The line seems to be drawn very arbitrarily IMO, like you said many drivers "back in the day" were openly using drugs. The drugs haven't changed, only society has.

/END RANT

Edited by travbrad, 10 May 2009 - 00:19.

[rolf123]

Yup, drugs can't give an F1 driver any advantage. It's ridiculous they test for them. It's not like there was a problem to start with.

Heck, James Hunt used to smoke copious amounts of cannabis and he won a WDC!

[Bothedog]

Yup, drugs can't give an F1 driver any advantage. It's ridiculous they test for them. It's not like there was a problem to start with.

Heck, James Hunt used to smoke copious amounts of cannabis and he won a WDC!

I suspect several of the ADHD drugs developed in the USA could very easily give an F1 driver a performance boost. They probably arent even illegal, either.

[Saint Devote]

Its an American sport - why would anyone be surprised? Americans love drugs.

[Saint Devote]

Yup, drugs can't give an F1 driver any advantage. It's ridiculous they test for them. It's not like there was a problem to start with.

Heck, James Hunt used to smoke copious amounts of cannabis and he won a WDC!

You cannot make that sort of allegation. When he was a driver he smoked cigarettes and partied to the hilt but exactly where is your evidence that he "smoked copious amounts..."?

Were you around when James was racing? I was and Teddy Mayer was not the sort of team boss to tolerate drug addicts.

So either produce valid proof or apologize to the reputation of much missed and loved by his many friends racing driver.

[Slowinfastout]

Its an American sport - why would anyone be surprised? Americans love drugs.

Nice ******** post..

[Direct Drive]

Yup, drugs can't give an F1 driver any advantage. It's ridiculous they test for them. It's not like there was a problem to start with.

Heck, James Hunt used to smoke copious amounts of cannabis and he won a WDC!

A little bong time apparently didn't hurt Michael Phelps and his 8 swimming gold medals.

[Rob G]

You cannot make that sort of allegation. When he was a driver he smoked cigarettes and partied to the hilt but exactly where is your evidence that he "smoked copious amounts..."?

Were you around when James was racing? I was and Teddy Mayer was not the sort of team boss to tolerate drug addicts.

So either produce valid proof or apologize to the reputation of much missed and loved by his many friends racing driver.

I hope you've learned your lesson, rolf123. The next time you make a baseless allegation and attack, make sure you aim them at an entire nation of 300 million people and not just one individual.

[rsherb]

"In my case, I believe that the combination of a prescribed medicine and an over the counter medicine reacted together and resulted in a positive drug test," Mayfield said in a statement. "My doctor and I are working with both Dr. (David) Black and NASCAR to resolve this matter."

[rolf123]

You cannot make that sort of allegation. When he was a driver he smoked cigarettes and partied to the hilt but exactly where is your evidence that he "smoked copious amounts..."?

Were you around when James was racing? I was and Teddy Mayer was not the sort of team boss to tolerate drug addicts.

So either produce valid proof or apologize to the reputation of much missed and loved by his many friends racing driver.

copious amounts = drug addict?

This is an internet forum dimwit, not a quality daily. Exaggeration is abound here. But Hunt definitely smoked weed and hardly just once or twice. Can I be bothered to dig up my source for you? No. Apologize? Don't be ridiculous.

edit: obviously it's not gospel, but even Wikipedia calls Hunt a "casual user of marijuana". If this weren't true I'm sure it would have been edited by now. And this wasn't even my source. Seems that you're memories of the time are quite sketchy!

Edited by rolf123, 10 May 2009 - 03:47.

[rolf123]

I hope you've learned your lesson, rolf123. The next time you make a baseless allegation and attack, make sure you aim them at an entire nation of 300 million people and not just one individual.

300 million? What drugs are you on? Haven't a scooby what you're on about.

edit: maybe I am not understanding the joke

Edited by rolf123, 10 May 2009 - 04:21.

[rsherb]

300 million? What drugs are you on? Haven't a scooby what you're on about.

It was aimed at Saint Devote, who in one post makes a general statement that 'Americans love drugs', and then in the very next post blasts you for making the allegation that Hunt smoked copious amounts of weed.

[OfficeLinebacker]

Yeah and Hunt the Shunt wasn't the only one. Weed probably hurts performance way less than alcohol. But still I'm fine with it being illegal. And I agree that several stimulants would definitely help in auto racing. They should definitely be banned.

It's a bad example anyway and for millions of dollars a year, it shouldn't be a problem to give up recreational drug use.

Also for the record marijuana is probably the least addicting of the recreational drugs so to call someone who was "a casual user of marijuana" an addict is more than a stretch.

I Think Rob G meant Saite Devote not rolf123.

Saint Devote, way to be classy man.

[Rob G]

300 million? What drugs are you on? Haven't a scooby what you're on about.

edit: maybe I am not understanding the joke

rsherb got it right. I was pointing out Saint Devote's hypocritical posts by doing a mock finger-wag at you. Sorry for the confusion.

[ensign14]

He is not the first one to be banned. Kevin Grubb was banned sine die a couple of years ago following a second positive recreational drugs test.

Sadly, Grubb was found dead a few days ago. Probably suicide.

[OfficeLinebacker]

He is not the first one to be banned. Kevin Grubb was banned sine die a couple of years ago following a second positive recreational drugs test.

Sadly, Grubb was found dead a few days ago. Probably suicide.

You know I should have specified first CUP driver to get banned. Definitely first top level multiple race winner!

Was it Aaron Fike who admitted racing in the Truck series after shooting up heroin (not minutes after but the same day)?

Edited by OfficeLinebacker, 10 May 2009 - 08:28.

[Buford]

You know I should have specified first CUP driver to get banned. Definitely first top level multiple race winner!

Was it Aaron Fike who admitted racing in the Truck series after shooting up heroin (not minutes after but the same day)?

Well actually definitely not now that you mentioned it. I always love the quality of information in this forum. Tim Richmond was the first to be suspended due to a failed drug test. Later reinstated. And he was a multiple race winner by the way.

Edited by Buford, 10 May 2009 - 08:34.

[mursuka80]

My friend has smoked weed with Räikkönen,when Kimi was 18 years old Said he was a cool guy when stoned.

Edited by mursuka80, 10 May 2009 - 08:39.

[OfficeLinebacker]

Well actually definitely not now that you mentioned it. I always love the quality of information in this forum. Tim Richmond was the first to be suspended due to a failed drug test. Later reinstated. And he was a multiple race winner by the way.

Ahh but we know that it was just an excuse to bench him because of AIDS. According to the NY Times it was OTC allergy medication.

Besides, I should have said "UNDER THE NEW POLICY" just to be safe.

How's your back Buford?

Edited by OfficeLinebacker, 10 May 2009 - 08:40.

[potmotr]

Rubens Barrichello and (I think) Max Papis failed an FIA drugs test in 1995 but were allowed to race.

The offending substance was some cold remedy.

[Buford]

Ahh but we know that it was just an excuse to bench him because of AIDS. According to the NY Times it was OTC allergy medication.

Besides, I should have said "UNDER THE NEW POLICY" just to be safe.

How's your back Buford?

Point is Tim Richmond was the first topline NASCAR driver and multiple race winner who was banned due to a failed drug test, not Jeremy Mayfield. That is the criteria you were acting like you knew about but were incorrectly posting. I don't know what the back businesses is but you have said it twice now.

Edited by Buford, 10 May 2009 - 08:46.

[nada12]

According to the NY Times it was OTC allergy medication.

Thats plausible. Many OTC asthma and allergy medications contain ephedrine which can possibly show up in a substance test. Just gotta be careful with that stuff if you're submitted to drug testing.

[F1Fanatic.co.uk]

What is the FIA's doping policy?

I believe they adopted World Anti-Doping Agency standards in 2005:

http://www.wada-ama.org/

[OfficeLinebacker]

Point is Tim Richmond was the first topline NASCAR driver and multiple race winner who was banned due to a failed drug test, not Jeremy Mayfield. That is the criteria you were acting like you knew about but were incorrectly posting. I don't know what the back businesses is but you have said it twice now.

You're right Buford, I was wrong. However even Nascar.com calls it a "banned substance" with quotes. http://www.nascar.co...ngle.html#page2

Anyway I hope your back is holding up.

[Terry Walker]

Some years back an Olympic athlete - pentathlete perhaps, can't recall - got tossed out for drinking a lot of Coca-Cola between bouts. Coca-Cola, it seems, is a performance enhancing drug because it has a caffeine content. Like a cup of tea has.

Bizarre.

[Option1]

You're right Buford, I was wrong. ...

So of course, you've pm'd a mod to get your incorrect post heading fixed?

Maybe you should examine the old adage about checking your facts first.

Neil

[WildmouseX]

What an idiot, he was getting things going with his new team and then shoots himself in the foot and the tyres with a failed drug test.
Guess thats the end of him in NASCAR.

the end of him in nascar should have been when he destroyed the career of the most promising female stock car driver at that time, and ray evernham's race team by blaming their relationship for his lack of performance. good F'in riddence.


here's to you jeremy go F*** yourself!

[Guizotia]

I think that's pretty ridiculous. I can see if he was smoking marjuana right before driving or something (for safety reasons), but it's not like smoking marijuana a week before a race is going to impair your judgment/reaction times. It certainly won't give you a sporting advantage in any case. Red cars may go faster, but red eyes don't

So what you want is a drug test that can tell you how long ago the drug was taken, and then this to be applied to all the drivers every week so we only penalise drivers for using illegal drugs 'unsafely' i.e. too close to an event?

Illegal drugs are exactly that, so it's easy to fix the safety angle just by testing because they shouldn't be taken at all. Alcohol is legal but it would be easier to have "probable cause" (i.e. spot the stinking drunk person) in cases of alcohol use close to races.

[OfficeLinebacker]

NASCAR's drug doctor saying Mayfield's explanation is not plausible:

http://sports.espn.g...tory?id=4157540

Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield's explanation -- that two allowed medications may have combined to result in a failed drug test -- isn't plausible, NASCAR's substance abuse policy administrator told USA Today.

"What we have is a clear violation of policy," David Black said, according to the newspaper. "In my many years of experience, I have never seen a violation like this due to the combination of over-the-counter or prescription products."

Black, whose Tennessee-based Aegis Labs runs NASCAR's drug-testing program, wouldn't divulge what drug Mayfield tested positive for, only saying it was "a drug of concern," the report said.

Mayfield became the first Cup driver to be suspended under the first-year policy.

On Saturday, he raised in a statement the possibility that "the combination of a prescribed medicine and an over the counter medicine reacted together and resulted in a positive drug test."

Mayfield, who did not qualify for Saturday night's Cup race at Darlington Raceway, received a positive random test the previous weekend at Richmond International Raceway.

He also failed a subsequent second test from the same sample. The results of that test were given to the governing body at noon and announced at a Saturday night news conference.

There is no appeal process.

"My doctor and I are working with both Dr. Black and NASCAR to resolve this matter," Mayfield's statement said.

[Madras]

Drugs should be compulsory in NASCAR, it might actually make the racing interesting.

[OfficeLinebacker]

Drugs should be compulsory in NASCAR, it might actually make the racing interesting.

Stay classy, Madras.

[markpde]

NASCAR's drug doctor saying Mayfield's explanation is not plausible:

http://sports.espn.g...tory?id=4157540

'Black, whose Tennessee-based Aegis Labs runs NASCAR's drug-testing program, wouldn't divulge what drug Mayfield tested positive for, only saying it was "a drug of concern," the report said.'

So why won't he divulge what drug Mayfield tested positive for, then?

[OfficeLinebacker]

'Black, whose Tennessee-based Aegis Labs runs NASCAR's drug-testing program, wouldn't divulge what drug Mayfield tested positive for, only saying it was "a drug of concern," the report said.'

So why won't he divulge what drug Mayfield tested positive for, then?

In the USA they take medical privacy very, very seriously and drug and alcohol abuse are considered a medical issue. Therefore the substance in question is between Mayfield and NASCAR and his doctor.

Here's another article--this is as close as you're going to get. Black says the substance was "a drug of great concern." The gist of the article is that medical issues are always taken into consideration--for example if you have a cold, you might have some pseudoephedrine in your system. However there's a limit to how much you can have, no matter how sick you are.

http://www.scenedail...ogist_says.html

[Option1]

In the USA they take medical privacy very, very seriously and drug and alcohol abuse are considered a medical issue. Therefore the substance in question is between Mayfield and NASCAR and his doctor.

Oh puh-leeezzzzz. That would of course be why the other sports have no difficulty whatsoever in releasing details of the drugs people tested positive for would it?

Oh and that's a rhetorical question, but I again suggest you check your facts before posting nonsense.

Neil

[cheapracer]

funny thing is weed is a performance debilitating drug, in athletic terms

Not true and not funny.

Some atheletes suffer from nervous disorders that will see performance debilitating attributes and have been known to use beta blockers and weed etc. to slow their adreniline build up.