09/22/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - NASCAR unveiled its upgraded substance- abuse policy over the weekend, to include random testing beginning in 2009. All drivers, crew members and even race officials will be tested prior to the start of next season, and will be subject to random tests throughout the year.
NASCAR's current drug policy has been in place for over 20 years, but has been scrutinized by competitors such as Kevin Harvick in the past months, after former Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike admitted to using heroin on race days. In July 2007, Fike was arrested and charged with heroin possession in the parking lot of an amusement park in Ohio.
Ron Hornaday, Jr. told ESPN the Magazine last week he used prescribed testosterone cream in 2004 and 2005 to treat a serious medical condition. NASCAR officials met with Hornaday at New Hampshire and cleared the defending Truck Series champion of any wrongdoing.
NASCAR will continue its current policy of testing any competitor who is of "reasonable suspicion." Penalties, which include immediate suspension from competition, will remain the same. While it is possible that a competitor could receive a lifetime ban for just one violation, a third violation will automatically result in a lifetime ban.
NASCAR covered all of its principles in the new substance-abuse policy, with the exception of outlining what is illegal. The sanctioning body provided no list of which drugs are banned.
"We think we have the broadest policy in all of sports," Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's vice president of racing operations, said during a press conference Saturday at the Dover International Speedway. "The reason we don't have a list is we believe that a list is restrictive. If you've seen a lot of other leagues, the policy is constantly changing. We know that there's new drugs out there every day. By having a broad policy that doesn't list anything, we feel like we can test for any substance that may be abused, no different than our policy is today."
Whereas most major league sports in the United States have a detailed list of banned substances on their drug testing policies, NASCAR believes such a list is unnecessary.
"Any substance abuse test that we'll do, it will be broad, sweeping and comprehensive," O'Donnell said. "Normally the categories you can look at are any narcotic that can be abused, beta blockers and steroids. Those are kind of the three key areas that we'll look at. But beyond that, we've got the capability to test for any substance."
NASCAR needed to amend its substance-abuse policy to ensure the safety of the sport. Let's just hope not having a thorough list of banned substances won't create an issue.
<< Nocera enters top 100 in Rolex Rankings
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gwladys Nocera won for the fourth time
this season on the Ladies European Tour and that win helped her jump into the
top 100 in this week's Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings.
The win moved Nocera up 1
<< Tigers' Sheffield suspended four games
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Detroit Tigers designated hitter Gary
Sheffield was suspended four games by Major League Baseball for his actions in
Friday's Tigers-Indians contest in Cleveland.
Sheffield will not appeal the de
<< Reds' six-run seventh puts Marlins' playoff chances on ropes
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jerry Hairston Jr. went 3-for-5 with two RBI
and a run scored as the Cincinnati Reds put a serious damper in Florida's slim
playoff hopes with a 7-5 win over the Marlins in a makeup game at Great
America
<< Syracuse's Devendorf granted extra year
Syracuse, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Syracuse University guard Eric Devendorf has
been granted an extra year of eligibility by the Big East Conference after
missing most of last season with a knee injury.
Devendorf will be classified as a
Wizards sign three forwards >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Wizards signed free agent
forwards DerMarr Johnson, Linton Johnson and Taj McCullough on Monday.
Per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
DerMarr Johnson, the sixth over
Medalist advances, defending champ out at Senior Amateur >>
Fort Worth, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Stroke-play medalist Paul Simson rallied
from a 1-down deficit Monday to earn a 3 & 2 win at the USGA Senior Amateur
Championship at Shady Oaks Country Club.
Simson, the 2008 British Senior Open A
Creekmore moves on at Senior Women's Amateur >>
Tulsa, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carolyn Creekmore, the stroke-play medalist and
the 2004 winner of this championship, cruised to a 5 & 4 win over Mary Flynn
on Monday at the USGA Senior Women's Amateur at Tulsa Country Club.
Creekmore a
Wizards pick up Jordan's club option >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Wizards announced on Monday
they have picked up the one-year option on the contract of head coach Eddie
Jordan, keeping the coach on the sidelines through the 2009-10 season.
Per team pol
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