American Top Fuel racer Tommy Johnson Jr. described his suspension from FIA competition with just two races left in the season as a major disappointment.

Johnson, currently FIA Top Fuel point leader, was suspended under the FIA’s “anti-doping” legislation. He was found to have a drug in his system, which is used to treat a medical condition and legal under the NHRA sanction, but not accepted under FIA guidelines.

Johnson has been taking a doctor prescribed medication for a sleeping disorder for the last 18 years.

“I did a drug test just like in NHRA, it was no problem for me to submit,” said Johnson. “I listed the prescription on the forms when I submitted to the test.”

When the test administrator returned with a positive result for the prescription, it came as no surprise to Johnson who has submitted to numerous random tests from the NHRA.

American Top Fuel racer Tommy Johnson Jr. described his suspension from FIA competition with just two races left in the season as a major disappointment.

Johnson, currently FIA Top Fuel point leader, was suspended under the FIA’s “anti-doping” legislation. He was found to have a drug in his system, which is used to treat a medical condition and legal under the NHRA sanction, but not accepted under FIA guidelines.

Johnson has been taking doctor-prescribed Dexedrinbe [click here for more info] for a sleeping disorder for the last 18 years.

“I did a drug test just like in NHRA, it was no problem for me to submit,” said Johnson. “I listed the prescription on the forms when I submitted to the test.”

When the test administrator returned with a positive result for the prescription, it came as no surprise to Johnson who has submitted to numerous random tests from the NHRA.

“It always comes back positive,” Johnson said. “I have a sleeping disorder and I have a prescription medication to treat that. After any test whether it’s NHRA, work or D.O.T., I have to prove I have a prescription for the medication. I tried to do that for the FIA and they weren’t receptive to that. It’s apparent there’s a difference in policies.”

Johnson said verifying proof of his prescription and medical necessity with the FIA has been tougher than any test he’s submitted to.

“Their way is just different than the others,” Johnson said. “I’ve compiled more medical documents known to man to prove this is a condition which requires this medicine to treat. Hopefully they’ll understand that and we can go down the road. It’s just unfortunate that we can’t get this resolved before this weekend.”

Johnson needs only one round to clinch the FIA Top Fuel championship but because of the test results he will be unable to participate in this weekend’s NitrOlympx in Hockenheim, Germany. The soonest the FIA Appeals board would enable Johnson to present his case is August 29.

Johnson contends he was up front and honest regarding the prescribed medicine in his system.

“I haven’t tried to hide a thing,” Johnson said. “Where they asked for prescription medication, I was sure to list it. I have provided letters from physicians as well as the tests to diagnose me with the condition. I provided prescription history. I’ve provided everything I could find to prove this is a medical necessity. We’ll just have to wait and see if this is acceptable or not.”

The medication, Johnson contends, is to ensure he doesn’t fall asleep while operating machinery and provides no athletic advantage.

“It just allows me to stay awake like normal people,” Johnson explained. “I wish I didn’t have to take it but it’s something I was diagnosed with 18 years ago. Ironically, my sister has the same disease. It keeps me awake. It’s something the doctors WANT me to take.”

Johnson wants the point known that he’s been more than cooperative in the situation if not to return to racing, but to clear his name from the stigma attached to “anti-doping” references.

“I’m a huge advocate of drug testing,” Johnson said. “The last thing I would want to do is race against an impaired driver. This is not the case. It just popped up on a drug test. It’s unfortunate. I did no different than I have with the NHRA for the last 18 years.”

Don Schumacher, Johnson’s current U.S. employer, fully supports his team member and has offered assistance with any legal needs either through his team’s in-house counsel or providing representation abroad.

“I think it’s a shame that something like this might keep him from being able to compete over there for the championship he and the have all but locked up,” Schumacher said on Thursday afternoon. “He’s done a great job for them and they’ve done a great job with them. For this to affect him in the championship, is a real shame.

“Tommy is someone of high integrity and does a great job for us here at DSR. My relationship with him is nothing less than stand-up and first class.”

Having to sit out this weekend’s event, might have already cost Johnson the championship.

European team owner Karsten Anderson commented in Eurodragster.com, “Tommy received the results of the test two weeks after the Nitro Nationals and his license was suspended. It's a failure in procedure but we didn't know the procedure. You have to fill in a form thirty days before competition and Tommy only got his FIA license two weeks before the FIA Main Event. The FIA Commission have spoken to FIA but it's out of their hands - FIA have anti-doping legislation and won't change it even though that medication is legal in NHRA. There is an appeal hearing at the end of August, but Hockenheim would have been our last race this season anyway because our budget only stretched as far as this event."

CompetitionPlus.com has requested a statement from the FIA but as of this posting has yet to arrive.

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