CONCORD, N.C. -- NASCAR chairman Brian France called Jeremy Mayfield's positive drug test "a serious violation" of its toughened new drug policy.
France said on Friday he considers performance-enhancers and recreational drugs to be serious violations. But a person familiar with Mayfield's test results told the Associated Press that Mayfield did not test positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
That means Mayfield tested positive for a narcotic or a controlled substance, such as cocaine, marijuana or methamphetamine.
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France would not reveal what Mayfield was caught using, despite a call from several drivers to disclose the drug.
"We had a serious violation of our test, our substance-abuse policy, which gets you an automatic and indefinite suspension and that is where we stand with Jeremy," France said. "We've said it's serious."
Mayfield failed a random drug test conducted on May 1 at Richmond International Raceway. He attributed it to a combination of a prescription drug and an over-the-counter medication but NASCAR's drug-testing program administrator has rejected that explanation.
When his B sample came back positive last Saturday. NASCAR immediately suspended him as a driver and team owner of Mayfield Motorsports.
But Mayfield's explanation has left many drivers confused and admittedly scared to take any medications for fear of failing a drug test.
France tried to reassure the drivers, explaining proper use of over-the-counter medication and prescriptions won't lead to NASCAR punishment.
"If you should test positive for over-the-counter medications or a prescribed medication that you are on with your doctor, that doesn't result in NASCAR suspending you," France said. "You will ... be asked to explain why you have a certain substance that was identified in a test. That's happened a lot, and it doesn't get you a suspension."
Greg Bromberg 
