RSS
Home
What if Jeremy Mayfield really is guilty?
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
The saga of Jeremy Mayfield continued last week when a judge cleared the way for him to return to the track. And so it was that Friday night at Daytona International Speedway we in the media were searching for Mayfield after a reported sighting of him.
It turned out that Mayfield had decided to stay away from the track, choosing to instead issue a statement.
"We've been watching on television and reading online about the `Storm Clouds Over Daytona' and the `Mayfield Media Circus,'" the statement read in part. "Honestly, this is the last thing Shana or I want for anybody. This weekend shouldn't be about a questionable drug test or a flawed drug testing system. It should be about celebrating our country, the greatest country in the world.
"So, enjoy the weekend with your friends and family, and have a very Happy Independence Day. We look forward to seeing you all at the track very soon."
Mayfield was suspended from NASCAR May 9th after officials said he tested positive for methamphetamines. Mayfield insisted that the test was a false positive and fans began to rally around him, some to support their driver and others simply because they are of the notion that NASCAR is an evil entity and that everything they do is wrong.
Since he was suspended Mayfield has filed suit alleging that in fact NASCAR’s entire drug testing policy is flawed and that he was a victim. Among his charges are that he was not allowed to have one of the samples tested independently. For its part NASCAR has yet to respond to the latest ruling, but did say that a sample was made available to Mayfield.
Lost among all the court filings and prepared statements though there is one question that has to be asked:
What if Mayfield really is guilty?
We’ve all made mistakes in our lives, maybe drove home after a few too many beers or even committed a minor crime we got away with. And there have been times in our lives when we have denied any wrongdoing of such an act. Whether to friends our parents or co-workers, we have all denied responsibility for doing something wrong at least once. It’s an unfortunate part of our society. The prisons are full of people who proclaim their innocence despite evidence, sometimes overwhelming, to the contrary.
For the vast majority of us while we may have denied a wrong in the past, most often we will later admit our guilt or own up to the problem the next time around.
Under NASCAR’s current drug policy, and in fact the policies of most major sports, is a provision that allows an athlete to work towards reinstatement. In fact according to NASCAR chairman Brian France this past weekend, that’s the best outcome for everyone involved.
“The perfect outcome for us when someone has a positive test is that they follow the program, and they go for reinstatement as part of how the program outlines you to do such,” France said. “And that means rehabilitation; that means admission; that means taking the road back that is going to be best from a medical standpoint for an individual; that means getting someone some help, typically, depending on what substance we are talking about; and following the proven path that the positions and the experts in the field have seen that works, because we would like to have someone back.”
France added that not only will they give someone a chance to complete a program, they would give someone more then once chance if that’s what it took.
“We really want to see someone follow the road back,” France said. “Get healthy and come back and race with us.”
The only who one who knows for sure if he is guilty of taking a recreational drug or not is Mayfield himself. And it may be months before the entire scenario plays out in the courts. One thing is for certain however, if he is guilty the sooner he admits that the sooner he can complete a program and be cleared to race again.
Only when he’s cleared will the ‘Mayfield Media Circus’ he despises pack up its tents and leave.
Related Articles:
Comments
