Given the current controversies in other sports, does NASCAR test for steroids?
They certainly can. The sport’s drug policy, which can be as tough as officials want it to be because there is no players union in NASCAR, allows officials to test a driver or crewmember if there is a “reasonable suspicion” that he or she is using an illegal substance. Like a lot of things in NASCAR, the policy is intentionally vague to keep competitors on their toes. Steroids have been illegal without a prescription since 1991, so NASCAR could test for them, but it is unclear whether NASCAR has ever actually tested a competitor for steroids. It’s probably safe to assume that snack-sized drivers such as Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch aren’t on “the juice,” but that doesn’t mean steroid concerns don’t apply to NASCAR. Hendrick Motorsports’ employee handbook makes it clear that illegal drug use is a fireable offense. Andy Papathanassiou, personnel director for Hendrick Motorsports, has discussed steroid use with pit crewmembers but says “it’s not a major topic of conversation.” Papathanassio
