NASCAR: Mayfield used illegal drugs during races

The debate between NASCAR and driver Jeremy Mayfield continues to grow.

Mayfield was suspended last month after NASCAR said he violated their substance abuse policy following a positive urinalysis test given to him at Richmond.

According to a report in ESPN The Magazine, Mayfield tested positive for was methamphetamine a highly addictive and illegal drug.

Both sides have been under a gag order issued by the court since May 29th, but in court documents filed by NASCAR, it alleges that Mayfield was under the influence of an illegal drug while competing in the Sprint Cup Series.
 
In court documents, NASCAR stated that Mayfield "has been in three accidents in the five Sprint Cup Series races in which he has participated in 2009, including accidents in races in which Mayfield (a) tested positive for the illegal drug; (b) was under the influence of a drug he failed to report to NASCAR and/or (c) was under the influence of a combination of drugs which exceeded the acceptable safe levels under NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy."

Mayfield’s attorneys filed a lawsuit against NASCAR for among other things defamation, and to answer the NASCAR allegations that Mayfield used an illegal substance. The filings also included a request for a motion for a temporary restraining order against NASCAR. That motion was denied.

READ the documents:

NASCAR’s Drug Policy

Mayfields Court Filing

Mayfields Response to NASCAR’s suit

In Mayfield's lawsuit the lawyers said he tested positive for amphetamines, the result of a prescription for Adderall, which is often used in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. It also said Mayfield had taken Claritin-D, an over-the-counter allergy medicine, the day before the May 1 test.

According to a report from the Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service, NASCAR through their attorney Paul Hendrick, said in North Carolina state court May 29 that three drugs were found in Mayfield's system, and two were accounted for. But the test also found a "dangerous, illegal, banned" substance. He did not specify what that was, and NASCAR blacked out the substance in its counterclaim against Mayfield.

"After he tested positive for multiple drugs, Mayfield admitted that he had been using an (redacted) without informing NASCAR, for at least one month during which he raced in two races," NASCAR states in its counterclaim. "Mayfield's admitted use of an (redacted) does not explain his positive test for the illegal drug, (redacted)."

In one of Mayfield’s court filings he cites his own doctors who note in the documents that they agreed with Mayfield's account from an earlier suit that in a subsequent phone call Mayfield said "he was in a fiery wreck while competing in the Talladega race in late April .... and inhaled a large amount of fumes."

The Talladega race was in late April, prior to Richmond.

Last Friday NASCAR filed a counter suit, which claims Mayfield's admission of using attention deficit disorder drug Adderall without informing NASCAR - and his use of the drug at unsafe levels - violated the substance abuse policy. That violation would be in addition to an undisclosed illegal drug that showed up in his Richmond test