Originally Posted on July 24, 2007 on foxsports.com
In my last blog, we looked at the Nascar and IRL drug testing policies. In a nutshell, Nascar tests based upon reasonable suspicion, while the IRL randomly tests two drivers every other race weekend. Here are my ideas for drug testing.
1. Unified Testing of All Series and Tracks. First, all series and track promotors agree on drug testing and what punishment is issued upon a positive test. This means that if your next door neighbor racing at the track down the street tests positive, he receives the same punishment as Jimmie Johnson, reigning Nextel Cup Champion or Tony Schumacher, reigning NHRA Champion. Racers would no longer be able to go from track to track or series to series with a positive test. Out at one, out at all.
2. Testing of All Competitors. Racing is a team sport. While drivers are the obvious safety issue, do we really want a mechanic who is high checking the brakes on the car? At a minimum, random drug tests would cover driver, crew chief, and mechanics. There can be an argument made that anyone who has a pit-pass should be tested, but given that most local tracks make most of their purse money off the pit-gate, and there is a large number of random people coming into the pits who have no connection to the teams, this seems burdensome.
3. Standardized Course of Conduct for Testing. Now that all competitors are being tested, how do we do it? All selections are random, but each competitor should be tested at least one time during the year.
Number Tested : Each series/track tests 5% or no less than 2 competitors each week. Any "fractional" competitor is rounded up. For example, there are 43 Nascar teams each week (I'm ignoring the go or go-homers), there are approximately 10 members to the team. 5% of 430 = 21.5, so 22 people are tested each week in the Nascar garage. Series and/or tracks have the option of testing more.
Procedure: Series/tracks that have medical personal on hand can take the sample on site. The kit (whether urine, saliva, blood), would be sent to an independent lab for testing. Local tracks would have the option of having someone collect the sample on site, and then mailed into the lab, or could designate a local clinic to collect a sample within 72 hours of the selection.
Failure to provide sample: If a competitor refuses to provide a sample or fails to provide within the 72 hour period, it is deemed a positive drug test. They are then escorted off the track premises, and not allowed back in until they have complied with treatment or the appeal procedure below.
Option for additional testing: A competitor may pay for and request additional testing for himself/herself.
4. Suspension for positive test. Once a competitor tests positive, their racing privileges are immediately revoked. They are not allowed to be in the pit area of any track, but may purchase a spectator ticket. Series may elect for more stringent rules, if they so desire. Competitors are suspended until they have completed substance abuse treatment to the satisfaction of the sanctioning body the positive test was given to. For example, if Tony Stewart tests positive in a Cup series race, and does not complete the treatment required by Nascar, USAC could not swoop in an say he was eligble to race under their program.
5. Retesting. A Positive Test will automatically be retested at a different lab. Competitors may request the sample be sent for retest at a lab of their choosing. If the retest has a different result than the first test, the competitor shall give another sample within 24 hours of being made aware of the conflicting result. Such second test will include a hair test to determine drug usage. Inconclusive tests will result in the competitor being subject to additional testing at the series/track's pleasure.
6. Appeal Procedure. A Competitor may appeal the suspension to an appeal board set up by the sanctioning bodies, and composed of various members of the racing community.
7. Substance Abuse Treatment. A positive test and retest will lead to the requirement the Competitor complete substance abuse treatment. The treatment shall not be shorter than 180 days. Upon completion, the competitor will be subject to additional random testing, regardless if it is the "offseason" or not. Admission to the pits or back into racing is at the discretion of the sanctioning board after treatment is completed. Any subsequent relapse during the 180 day treatment, resets the clock on the 180 day treatment program. For example, get to day 155 and relapse, then you have to restart the 180 day program again.
8. Subsequent violations. A Competitor who tests positive for drugs on two separate occasions (ie completed treatment successfully once and came back to racing) shall be permanently barred from competition.
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