WSJ credits NASCAR's drug policy
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009
AVONDALE, Ariz. – NASCAR’s drug testing policy got high marks from the Wall Street Journal, which examined anti-doping policies of 22 major sports or governing bodies.
Each was assigned a "clarity quotient" based on the existence of a policy, its accessibility to the public, the severity of sanctions for offenders and administration of the code, according to an article published Saturday. NASCAR’s policy received a 90 out of a top score of 100 – fifth among those examined.
“The independent WSJ study shows that the NASCAR substance-abuse policy is by far one of the strongest and most comprehensive programs in all of sports,” said NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston.
The WSJ noted NASCAR's prohibition of the use of any drugs that might cause a driver to “have a competitive advantage or diminished or impaired ability to perform” and offseason testing. Also cited were policies outlining indefinite suspension for any positive test result and those that offer competitors treatment options for seeking reinstatement.
The four sports/governing bodies that scored higher than NASCAR were the International Boxing Federation/U.S. Boxing Association, International Olympic Committee, International Tennis Federation and the International Association of Athletics Federations (track & field).
Driver Aaron Fike's arrest on heroin possession charges in 2007 forced a re-examination of NASCAR's former policy, which was less formal and stated simply that drivers suspected of using illegal drugs or abusing legal substances could be tested or banned.
Before the 2008 season began, the new policy and enforcement under its provisions were in place.
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