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Defiant Mayfield is either innocent or crazy
Either he’s innocent, or he’s crazy.
That’s my take after seeing the developments this week in the Jeremy Mayfield drug test saga.
Speaking publicly about the incident this weekend, when he boldly showed up at the speedway, attending the race as a spectator atop the National Guard hospitality hauler in the infield, despite his ban, Mayfield was insistent that his test was positive due to a combination of two Claritin D 24-hour pills and a prescription medication.
He went on to say he would not enter any sort of NASCAR-mandated rehabilitation program that is required to pave the way for his return to competition, because he does not have any drug problem.
"Why would I?" Mayfield said plainly, who also made sure to note: "Yeah, I'm denying it. Illegal drugs? Yeah, definitely."
Assuming Mayfield still wants to drive, that leaves one way to get back: Legal action.
He made it clear this weekend that is an avenue he is willing to pursue to clear his name.
There is even a battle going on already about what Mayfield has been told.
Mayfield has said he was never told what drug caused the positive test or received a copy of the results. This is contradictory to what the administrator of NASCAR's drug-testing program, Dr. David Black, is saying. He told the Associated Press Monday that he personally told Jeremy Mayfield what banned substance was found in his positive test.
"I spoke with him about his positive test result on the day he was suspended, and I spoke to him directly about the test result," Black said. "Yes, by name of what he tested positive for."
Mayfield’s actions are very unique when compared to other drivers who have been busted for failed drug tests in the recent past.
It’s clear he does not believe he did anything wrong, and will shout it out from the rooftops and even in court if necessary. This does not fit with the pattern of drivers, such as Shane Hmiel, who accepted the penalties and followed programs back to reinstatement (though Hmiel eventually relapsed and received a lifetime ban).
So this opens up a very real possibility that not many oeople thought possible when the news of the suspension first came out: Mayfield may actually be innocent, and NASCAR may just be so embarrassed by their ruling they don’t want to backpedal even if they’re wrong.
If this is the case, I wish Jeremy the best of luck, as he’s going to need it to beat the bigwig lawyers NASCAR will bring to the fight against his likely less formidable legal team.
The other option is that Mayfield actually took some illegal substance and still continues to raise the level of fuss he has so far.
If this is the case, he’s pretty much lost his mind, because there’s nothing more crazy in this sport than to take on the NASCAR bigwigs when you know they’re right and you are wrong. If this is the case, don’t count on him ever driving in the sport again.
That’s my take after seeing the developments this week in the Jeremy Mayfield drug test saga.
Speaking publicly about the incident this weekend, when he boldly showed up at the speedway, attending the race as a spectator atop the National Guard hospitality hauler in the infield, despite his ban, Mayfield was insistent that his test was positive due to a combination of two Claritin D 24-hour pills and a prescription medication.
He went on to say he would not enter any sort of NASCAR-mandated rehabilitation program that is required to pave the way for his return to competition, because he does not have any drug problem.
"Why would I?" Mayfield said plainly, who also made sure to note: "Yeah, I'm denying it. Illegal drugs? Yeah, definitely."
Assuming Mayfield still wants to drive, that leaves one way to get back: Legal action.
He made it clear this weekend that is an avenue he is willing to pursue to clear his name.
There is even a battle going on already about what Mayfield has been told.
Mayfield has said he was never told what drug caused the positive test or received a copy of the results. This is contradictory to what the administrator of NASCAR's drug-testing program, Dr. David Black, is saying. He told the Associated Press Monday that he personally told Jeremy Mayfield what banned substance was found in his positive test.
"I spoke with him about his positive test result on the day he was suspended, and I spoke to him directly about the test result," Black said. "Yes, by name of what he tested positive for."
Mayfield’s actions are very unique when compared to other drivers who have been busted for failed drug tests in the recent past.
It’s clear he does not believe he did anything wrong, and will shout it out from the rooftops and even in court if necessary. This does not fit with the pattern of drivers, such as Shane Hmiel, who accepted the penalties and followed programs back to reinstatement (though Hmiel eventually relapsed and received a lifetime ban).
So this opens up a very real possibility that not many oeople thought possible when the news of the suspension first came out: Mayfield may actually be innocent, and NASCAR may just be so embarrassed by their ruling they don’t want to backpedal even if they’re wrong.
If this is the case, I wish Jeremy the best of luck, as he’s going to need it to beat the bigwig lawyers NASCAR will bring to the fight against his likely less formidable legal team.
The other option is that Mayfield actually took some illegal substance and still continues to raise the level of fuss he has so far.
If this is the case, he’s pretty much lost his mind, because there’s nothing more crazy in this sport than to take on the NASCAR bigwigs when you know they’re right and you are wrong. If this is the case, don’t count on him ever driving in the sport again.
posted by Matt Myftiu at
12:44 AM
5 Comments:
After all this hoopla regarding Nascar's testing policy, I think it must boil down to "if you take too much of anything (exceed the recommended dosage on the package) without a bonified prescription from a Dr. then you can be banned. This must include Claratin, asprin, Aleve, Tylonol, Excedrin and all other otc medicines sold in every drug store in America and regulated by the FDA. They test for an excess of all drugs that are legal and the presence of any that are banned or illegal
Mayfield keeps saying that he is taking a prescription drug. Why doesn't he make public the name of that drug? Most people are aware that marijuana is a prescription drug... in California. So if this is the drug of choice, Jeremy is technically correct. It would be so easy if he would just reveal the prescription drug he is suppossedly taking, and then let the doctors, scientists, and expert witnesses fight it out.
Of course Jeremy loves the limelight... even to his own detriment, so your "mental illness" diagnosis may have merit.
Marijuana, despite it's ability to be obtained via prescription, is still federally illegal...Jeremy would be incorrect in that defense. It doesn't really matter though since NASCAR hasn't revealed their drug testing targets to the general public, so they can pretty much do what they would like...see Tim Richmond.
I sure don't think Jeremy is innocent, but then I don't really know.
One thing that does not help fans is the fact that the reporting so far, has not been accurate.
The word illegal drugs. That is a distraction that started with Jeremy and continues with media. NASCAR and Dr Black have NEVER, NEVER used the word illegal. They always say banned substance.
Jeremy might as well claim his innocence that he is not a bank robber. The media could keep on repeating it, but a fan has to ask themselves why are they repeating such a statement? He has not been accused of such a thing.
Next, Jeremy is not complaining about the drug policy. That belongs to NASCAR and he has said he respects what they are doing.
Jeremy says he tested positive due to a false positive due to an OTC drug, Claritin D and a prescription. He will have to sue Aegis Labs, NOT NASCAR, they don't do the testing.
If he tries to sue NASCAR for their policy, he'll have some stumbling blocks. He signed an agreement in order to race. And more that most, he has already been close and personal to the policy when his crew member was suspended a few months ago.
I'm sure Schering-Plough, the makers of Claritin D, would be happy to defend their product. Last year they spent $3.5 BILLION in R & D. I'm sure they have done thousands of test on Claritin D to warn users the appropriate method of taking it. A company that made $18.5 BILLION in sales last year, will not spare any expense to defend its product.
I don't see Jeremy winning, so the media should stop giving him a platform and false sense of grandeur.
"Cindy" that's a good post as are others. The news media ought to stop giving Mayfield a platform. I for one am an ardent NASCAR critic because they just can't help but look like idiots a lot of times. But this Mayfield guy has been bad news for years. How could he expect reasonable people to believe he hasn't been told the reason of his failed test? NASCAR and the lab wouldn't do that. There is too much riding on this.
I can say NASCAR's meandering around answering questions looks suspicious but they always do that. Mayfield knows this and that's why he is out there. For me NASCAR would be best served by saying -- in the beginning -- "we have a nationally known lab with and impeccable reputation along with a world class doctor who has done this many many years. We have the test and it is positive for banned substances and the B sample also came up positive. We have informed the driver of this action." Case closed. If Litigating Jeremy wants to sue then let him sue. He has already fallen from top rides to no or low tear rides. He ain't going anywhere in NASCAR fast where he is let alone failing a drug test...And now going after NASCAR and maybe suing? Geezuz, Curtis Turner would have a better chance coming back form the dead and getting reinstated. Mayfield and his wife are loose cannons; trashy. Have been for a few years now.
Curtis Turner nearly lost his ability to be in NASCAR when he took on NASCAR (did for a while then Big Bill relented out of necessity); Bobby Allison sued NASCAR many years ago and it never went to court but it took Bobby A LONG TIME before he won a championship (read: Days of Thunder scene when Fred Thompson says "we will take apart your race car for 300 laps and then maybe let yo back in"). I wouldn't say you need to Kiss NASCAR's Ring today but I wouldn't go "tugging on Superman's Cape" either.
No matter what Mayfield will have a hard time getting a Go-Kart on the track after this kind of behavior. If he is not guilty then it will reveal itself in some way. That WILL come to light. In the meantime he is just playing the media. And many are all too happy to partake...I saw an "unscientific" poll someone had on their website on Monday and over 50,000 votes and over 69% believed Mayfield. So I don't know if that was a "spammed" poll or not. But seems like NASCAR's secretive policies and inconsistent rulings over the years have given them, let's say, a "PR problem."
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