| Major League Baseball could have a permanent | | | | a random drug test at least twice a year. |
| black eye after widespread use of performance | | | | NASCAR president Mike Helton sidesteps the call |
| enhancing drugs became common knowledge. | | | | by commending his drivers for speaking |
| Substance abusers have already tarnished the | | | | out-allegedly "proving" they're clean. Moreover, |
| sport of professional football. The international | | | | Helton says the sport's teams have their own |
| Olympics will be under a microscope this summer | | | | drug policies in effect, which NASCAR does not |
| after decades of drug scandals. And the PGA is | | | | override. |
| discussing whether to test pro golfers as the | | | | It was Richmond's death at age 34 that |
| world notes the sudden bulk of a once wiry Tiger | | | | persuaded NASCAR to put a drug policy on |
| Woods, who is evasive on his private workout | | | | paper, though the rules aren't enforced and |
| regimen. | | | | random testing is not mandatory. Drivers sign a |
| NASCAR has had a written drug policy for over | | | | contract with NASCAR agreeing to certain |
| 20 years that has never been enforced. No | | | | conditions when applying for a competitor's |
| driver-unless it was done in secret-has been given | | | | license, but unless "reasonable suspicion" is evident, |
| a random drug test, but calls for change are | | | | nothing more is done. Many drivers who raised |
| getting louder and more frequent. | | | | suspicions, such as Fike, were arrested first |
| Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike was | | | | before NASCAR got wise and took action. |
| suspended indefinitely after making claims to a | | | | Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman claims that |
| national magazine that he used heroin on race | | | | Fike's situation was neither the first nor the last |
| days. His condition was unknown until his arrest in | | | | of its kind, while long-time veteran Mark Martin |
| 2007, and drivers are now demanding a stiffer | | | | was thunderstruck by Fike's arrest. Dale Earnhardt |
| policy. Fike, who has also run in over 50 Busch | | | | Jr. calmly says that if enough people speak out on |
| Series events, competed in a truck event at | | | | NASCAR's guiding principle-one of 'hear-no-evil, see |
| Memphis the day of his arrest, admittedly while | | | | no evil'-changes will come. |
| under the influence. | | | | NASCAR drivers are not part of a union, and |
| Former NASCAR driver Shane Hmiel was banned | | | | participants are employed by teams that are |
| for life after failing his third drug test in '06, and | | | | largely independent of the sanctioning body. Thus, |
| now races late models on dirt tracks. Hmiel | | | | mandatory testing for drugs or screening for |
| recently won a USAC Sprint Car Series race in | | | | alcohol is harder to implement and enforce. |
| California but is still banned from NASCAR events. | | | | NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France says his |
| A failed test in 1988 by driver Tim Richmond, | | | | sport has the most effective drug policy already |
| who died from AIDS a year later, still haunts the | | | | in place, one that promises swift and sure |
| sport. | | | | punishment-purely reactive rather than proactive. |
| The sanctioning body's official policy calls for | | | | France avoided a DUI arrest in '06 by leaving the |
| testing anytime, anywhere, but only on | | | | scene of an accident before police arrived. He |
| "reasonable suspicion," and leading drivers say | | | | continues to turn a blind eye unless evidence is |
| they have never been tested for drugs. They | | | | shown after the fact. |
| want a tougher stance in place and loudly call for | | | | |