Yesterday AJ Allmendinger was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR for failing a second drug test. The reports I've read say he tested positive for a "stimulant" banned by NASCAR. AJ denies the claims, saying that he took a supplement or a combination of supplements that must have created the positive test. NASCAR refuses to name the substance found in the positive test. Allmendinger claims his innocence.
This sounds rather familiar to the Jeremy Mayfield case. Mayfield was suspended for methamphetamine in 2009. His career basically ended there as he never was reinstated by NASCAR since he did not follow the required steps for reinstatement. Mayfield has since had run-ins with the law.
AJ has had his own run-ins with the law. He was arrested in 2010 for DUI. He served his community service and moved forward. Other drivers have made similar mistakes (Kyle Busch, Dave Blaney, Kurt Busch, among others) and most has been either forgotten or forgiven.
Several drivers and crew members have been tested and banned for substance abuse. Many have passed through NASCAR's "Road To Recovery" and have been reinstated.
In the end, nobody wins. NASCAR will be scrutinized for their testing policy and AJ will probably have a black cloud over his head for the remainder of his driving career. In the end however, if you want to participate in the sport, you need to comply with the rules. Many drivers have nutritionists, good doctors, etc that should know the warning signs and the dangers of taking supplements. I am by no means an expert in any of those fields, but if a driver, crew member, official, or anybody related to the sport wants to take a supplement, I would think they would have enough sense to check with a professional before taking such substance.
AJ's best best at this point is probably to go through the "Road To Recovery" program and get back in a race car.
This sounds rather familiar to the Jeremy Mayfield case. Mayfield was suspended for methamphetamine in 2009. His career basically ended there as he never was reinstated by NASCAR since he did not follow the required steps for reinstatement. Mayfield has since had run-ins with the law.
AJ has had his own run-ins with the law. He was arrested in 2010 for DUI. He served his community service and moved forward. Other drivers have made similar mistakes (Kyle Busch, Dave Blaney, Kurt Busch, among others) and most has been either forgotten or forgiven.
Several drivers and crew members have been tested and banned for substance abuse. Many have passed through NASCAR's "Road To Recovery" and have been reinstated.
In the end, nobody wins. NASCAR will be scrutinized for their testing policy and AJ will probably have a black cloud over his head for the remainder of his driving career. In the end however, if you want to participate in the sport, you need to comply with the rules. Many drivers have nutritionists, good doctors, etc that should know the warning signs and the dangers of taking supplements. I am by no means an expert in any of those fields, but if a driver, crew member, official, or anybody related to the sport wants to take a supplement, I would think they would have enough sense to check with a professional before taking such substance.
AJ's best best at this point is probably to go through the "Road To Recovery" program and get back in a race car.
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