NASCAR investigates changing drug-testing policy
Quote selected text Published May 3rd, 2008 in NASCAR News
NASCAR president Brian France has appointed a group of company officials to an interim committee that will study the sport’s drug policy, vice president of communications Jim Hunter said Friday.
The group, whose members Hunter said have “been around a long time and know the sport,” will report back to France with any recommendations “within six weeks or so.”
Among the topics they will survey, Hunter said, is whether or not to add a staff substance abuse expert and whether or not random testing should be implemented.
Currently, drivers are drug tested only under “reasonable suspicion.”
“We know the [current] policy is a good one, but maybe we need to enhance it, maybe we don’t,” Hunter said. “Maybe we need to do random testing, maybe we don’t. But within six weeks or so [France] wants a report with recommendations on what we should do.”
Hunter said the biggest hurdle for the sanctioning body is privacy.
“We’ve always respected that and we’re going to respect that,” Hunter said. “But if random testing is the answer I know the drivers are all for it. It’s a question of getting the team owners to cooperate with us.”
- Kevin Harvick’s NASCAR teams implementing drug testing
- Helton defends NASCAR’s drug testing policy
- Harvick and Burton call for more drug testing in NASCAR
- Former CTS driver Fike admits shooting heroin on race days
- NASCAR drivers upset over lack of drug testing
And why would any Team Owner not want to get on board with drug testing ?
Any owner that refused to comply would instantly be looked at with question as to his motives.
NASCAR needs to stop thinking it is SO special and different than other sports !!!
Public opion has brought this move in play and will continue to force NASCAR to move forward kicking and screaming all the way to doing the right thing…
I imagine most of the top teams have thir own random drug testing policies but it would be nice to know that the series is clean. These guys are hero’s to alot of kids so i hope things get sorted out.