Over a two-year period from December 2004 to January 2006, Ron Hornaday, the defending champion of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, received shipments of testosterone and human growth hormone from an anti-aging center that has been linked to drug-related scandals in the NFL and Major League Baseball. Hornaday acknowledged taking testosterone when shown records from the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center during an interview at his home in North Carolina on Tuesday, but he denied using growth hormone that was sent to his home for his wife’s use. Hornaday said he used the testosterone to treat a mysterious medical malady that later turned out to be a hyperactive thyroid. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said that Hornaday had not informed anyone in the league that he was using testosterone and that officials would seek more information from him before the Camping World RV Rental 200 in New Hampshire this weekend. “It’s hard to see whether it’s a violation or not,” said Poston, who noted that NASCAR’s drug-testing policy prohibits the abuse of all drugs. “There are certain prescriptions that drivers can take, and we look at them on a case-by-case basis. If it’s not putting other drivers at risk or enhancing performance — and it’s used as intended — we’ll make determinations as they come up.” Kevin Harvick, who owns the truck team on which Hornaday drives, defended his driver, even while acknowledging that Hornaday had not told him he was using the drug in 2005. “Ron was sick. My wife DeLana and I could see it. And we got him help,” Harvick said. “But before that, Ron sought other avenues of treatment. Did he use the [testosterone] cream? Yes. Did he use it to enhance his performance? No. I feel like he did everything right to take care of himself.” (To read complete article: ESPN.com)(9-11-2008)
UPDATE: In a press conference at NHMS, the following quote is from NASCAR’s Vice President of Corporate Communications, Jim Hunter: “It is over and done with, he is cleared to race. We don’t see where Ron did anything wrong. Our substance policy is based on reasonable suspicion. If you talk to physicians, which I would encourage you to do, on a case-by-case basis, depending upon on what a person’s condition is, then their prescriptions with all sorts of substances that are used for treatment, in some cases, those are acceptable. In Ron’s case, it was back in ’04, ’05, it is over.”(NASCAR PR)(More info on ESPN.com)(9-12-2008)
