Experts ridicule NASCAR's drug testing policy

NASCAR revised its Substance Abuse Policy, adding random drug testing, but the policy lacks a key element.

A list of banned substances.

"This is really bad,'' Charles Yeasalis told me about the lack of such a list. "If I were a driver and got caught, I'd hire me a real big-time lawyer and say make mince-meat of it.''

Yeasalis, who has reserached performance-enhancing drugs for 25 years and testified before Congress on the issue, says more in my story today and he's not alone in questioning why NASCAR doesn't have such a list _ a NASCAR official states: "The reason we don't have a list is we believe that a list is restrictive. ... By having a broad policy that doesn't list anything, we feel like we can test for any substance that may be abused, no different than our policy today.''

Yeasalis also spoke out in this story. Others aren't as concened about the lack of a list. Here's one column applauding NASCAR for its updated policy even without a list of banned substances. Here's another story where the chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list and methods committee questions NASCAR not having a list. In the Washington Post story, the WADA expert says: "The core of any drug testing policy is the prohibited list of banned substances. ... It is unfathomable to me that they would have a drug testing policy without explicity saying what drugs are banned. I've never heard of that.''

Here's the transcript from the press conference if you care to read what all was said by NASCAR in making its announcement.

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