NASCAR Drivers want list of all banned substances

Former champion Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman are among drivers who say they want to see a list of banned substances with NASCAR's drug testing policy, and Newman wants to know what caused Jeremy Mayfield to fail his test.

"This is a black or white situation and we're in the gray about a lot of things," Newman said Thursday night before the pit crew competition in Charlotte.

NASCAR announced Saturday that Mayfield had been indefinitely suspended for failing a drug test. Series officials have not revealed what caused the positive test, though the agreement drivers must sign before getting their series license each year permits

NASCAR to "publish the results of any test or tests conducted pursuant to this Policy."

This is the first year that series officials have instituted random drug testing. Previously, they could test based on suspicion. The revamped policy - in which every driver was tested before the season and about four drivers per series are tested each weekend - came about after former truck series driver Aaron Fike admitted last year he had raced while under the influence of heroin and had not been caught.

Also, series officials do not have a list of banned substances as other sports do, instead stating that the misuse or abuse of any drug is a violation.

Newman said he plans to quiz NASCAR officials about the policy, what caused Mayfield's positive test and why there is not a formal appeal process.

"I feel to protect myself and my wife and my team and everybody else, I need some more knowledge and a better understanding of what I can do in the future," said Newman, who has been randomly tested once this season. "Everybody wants a list. If they don't, they don't care."

Busch agreed that drivers need a list.

"It's hard to know what the rules are if they don't give you guidelines," he said.

Brian Vickers admits he's scared to take any type of regular medication or even vitamins for fear of having a positive test.

"If I want to take a multi-vitamin for daily health and drink a protein shake after I've worked out, I don't want to be scared to do that," he said. "I don't want to be afraid to take Tylenol when I have a headache because I have no idea what they consider drug abuse."

Mayfield claimed in a statement issued after his suspension that his positive test was the result of a reaction between a prescribed medicine and an over-the-counter medicine.

The Associated Press reported Thursday that an unnamed source stated that Mayfield did not test positive for steroids. Series spokesman Ramsey Poston told the AP: "The reason we don't reveal the substance is because our policy says the misuse or abuse of any substance is a violation. The substance is irrelevant. What's important is that a drug, under a positive test... has been misused or abused."

NASCAR chairman Brian France has not spoken about the policy or Mayfield's situation, but will meet the media this afternoon at Lowe's Motor Speedway, which is hosting this weekend's all-star race. France is expected to comment about both.