People familiar with AJ Allmendinger’s suspension say the NASCAR driver has elected to bring his own experts to witness the testing of his ‘B’ urine sample. Allmendinger was suspended by NASCAR on Saturday for failing a random drug test. He has said he tested positive for a stimulant he did not reveal, and has insisted he never ‘knowingly’ took a banned substance. Under NASCAR’s drug policy, an individual can bring in experts for the second test. Two people familiar with the case told The Associated Press that Allmendinger has chosen to bring a toxicologist and an attorney. They spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the process is confidential. Because Allmendinger is bringing his own people, the test of the sample will not occur until next week.(Associated Press)(7-12-2012)
UPDATE: Tara Ragan, business manager for suspended driver AJ Allmendinger, debunked published reports that Walldinger Racing plans to bring an attorney to the testing of Allmendinger’s ‘B’ sample, the next step in the procedure under NASCAR’s substance abuse program. As set forth in NASCAR’s rule book, Allmendinger may attend the ‘B’ sample test at Aegis Sciences Corporation in Nashville, Tenn., or send a qualified toxicologist to represent him. Allmendinger was suspended Saturday before that night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona because the ‘A’ sample from a urine test collected June 29 at Kentucky Speedway tested positive for what Ragan termed in a subsequent statement ‘a stimulant’ in an amount that was ‘slightly above the threshold.’ Ragan’s statement also included the assertion that Allmendinger had never knowingly taken a prohibited substance and indicated he was requesting a test of the ‘B’ sample, which was collected at the same time as the ‘A’ sample. Ragan said she took the passage in Section 19-11 B (2) of the rule book literally: ‘The NASCAR member may be present (either personally or represented by a qualified toxicologist not associated with Aegis) during the second test at his/her expense . . .’ Ragan said Allmendinger has not been informed of a ‘B’ sample test date, next week or otherwise.(NASCAR Wire Service)(7-14-2012)
UPDATE B Sample Test Set for Allmendinger: Statement from Tara Ragan, Vice President, Walldinger Racing Inc. ‘We now have a confirmed date for the testing of AJ’s ‘B’ (split specimen) Sample. The test will take place on Tuesday, July 24 at 8:00am CDT and be conducted at the Aegis Analytical Laboratories in Nashville. Pursuant to the 2012 NASCAR Rulebook and in line with the procedures, we have elected to have a designated independent toxicologist present on AJ’s behalf. Along with everyone else, we are looking forward to hearing the results as quickly as possible. AJ and all of us at Walldinger Racing have truly appreciated the outpouring of support from our fans, partners, and colleagues. It has meant a lot to us during this difficult time. We are also grateful to Mr. Penske and his management team for their patience and respect of the process we are going through.’(Walldinger Racing), see earlier updatees about Allmendinger’s situation on the #22 team news page.(7-17-2012)
