NHRA’s sometimes controversial random drug testing policy will be expanded in 2012 – and possibly include invasive blood testing.

The new policy will include random tests not only for drivers, but also other participants, such as crew members.

The Arizona Republic first reported the story in its Sunday editions. CompetitionPlus.com has confirmed The Republic’s story.

The National Football League – America’s most popular sport as measured by TV ratings and other metrics – added blood testing for human growth hormone in its new collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union. Provisions were the union had to agree with methods for gathering samples and proof of scientific accuracy. About two dozen scientists sent a letter last week to the league and union attesting to its safety and reliability.

NHRA’s sometimes controversial random drug testing policy will be expanded in 2012 – and possibly include invasive blood testing.

The new policy will include random tests not only for drivers, but also other participants, such as crew members.

The Arizona Republic first reported the story in its Sunday editions. CompetitionPlus.com has confirmed The Republic’s story.

The National Football League – America’s most popular sport as measured by TV ratings and other metrics – added blood testing for human growth hormone in its new collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union. Provisions were the union had to agree with methods for gathering samples and proof of scientific accuracy. About two dozen scientists sent a letter last week to the league and union attesting to its safety and reliability.

Major League Baseball’s players’ union does not allow blood testing, but it is done in the minor leagues. A Colorado Rockies’ minor league first baseman was suspended 50 games last summer after becoming the first North American pro athlete to test positive for HGH.  

Asked about the NFL’s actions, Graham Light, NHRA’s senior vice president of racing operations, responded Friday afternoon at the Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway:

“I’m not aware about the NFL but that’s good,” Light said. “That would be a decision the people we contracted with to perform our drug testing would have to evaluate. Seems to me to make sense.

“I see a need to continue random testing and we are re-writing the entire substance abuse policy. We want to expand it to include beyond drivers. We need to do that.

“I don’t believe we have a problem. We’ve seen no indication we have a problem, but as a responsible sanctioning body of a sport, we need to put something in place to ensure problems don’t arise. So, blood testing, do I see it’s necessary? I don’t know. Let the experts decide that.”
 
Ron Capps, considered in the pit area an unofficial spokesman for drivers, said he doesn’t think blood testing is needed.   

“Not blood testing, no,” said the NAPA Dodge Charger Funny Car driver. “We already have the random tests, the urine and the breath. I really don’t see any advantage to the HGH or any blood tests like that.

“The main thing is to keep these cars in the middle of the groove, the middle of the track, and reaction times. If we found out HGH could increase your reaction time by that much more, yeah, maybe it might be a problem. But I don’t see an issue.”

CompetitionPlus.com also asked Kenny Bernstein and Melanie Troxel to react to NHRA’s possible moves.

“I don’t know if (blood testing) is necessary but anything they want to do is fine with me,” said Bernstein, the six-time champion and owner of son Brandon’s Copart.com Top Fuel car. “I think you’ve got to be careful across the board – crew chief, driver, whoever – that’s today’s world. That’s the way it is. I’m open to whatever they want to do. I don’t have a problem with it.

“Our crew members now go through that. If you have a CDL (commercial driver’s) license, you have to be drug tested. So, it’s nothing new for us at all. We want our people to be right. We don’t want a problem area.

“Blood testing is more invasive. But if it is safe, number one, and accurate, then I don’t have a problem with that. If that’s what it takes to be safe out here, so be it.”

Troxel, who drives the In-N-Out Burger Funny Car, said: “Anything that the NHRA wants to do that would ensure a level playing field for competitors and ensure safety for competitors, I’m all for. There are elements of the drug testing policy right now -- particularly the alcohol, you have 24 hours to show up and be tested for alcohol -- I find kind of silly. If you were, in fact, drinking, you’d just come in the next day and be tested.

“I think it’s a good thing to possibly rein-in some of the testing procedures and maybe go a step further. I’m not really well-versed on HGH and whether or not anybody out here would be using that, particularly drivers. I do think, as far as the other team members are involved, we are talking about the safety of people going down the racetrack and make sure everybody that’s involved with these cars is 100 percent sharp and have mental clarity and focus on making these cars right.

“If somebody’s been out the night before, staying out too late drinking, and isn’t able to do 100 percent the next day, I think we should address that.”

NASCAR’s drug testing policy includes random tests for crew members and other non-driving participants.