Motorsport Drugs Testing

[dtmpower]

I don't know why but I guess I can rely on PH to answer something that came into my head today. Does WADA drug test Formula 1 drivers ?

I looked on the WADA policy website and it says that Alcohol 0.10g/L is banned from FIA events and also Beta-Blockers.

Alcohol I can sort of agree with, but why the Beta-Blockers ?

Is there a performance enhancement by taking them - improved driver concentration or body motor-function ?

[Mister V]

I seem to remember Heiki saying on his twitter that he got woken up at some ungodly hour in his hotel room for a random drugs test, so yes I think they do get tested.

[speedtwelve]

James Hunt would have been stuffed...

[team underdog]

speedtwelve said:

James Hunt would have been stuffed...

I think back in the day quite a few drivers would have failed!

[Eric Mc]

Moss and Fangio would have - as they openly admitted to taking stimulants during the 1955 Mille Miglia (there were no drug laws back then).

[mrmr96]

Can someone test Button please?!

[david_b]

Tomas Enge lost his F3000 title due to failing a drug test (cannabis) in Hungary in '02. And Jeremy Mayfield in NASCAR has failed tests more than once for amphetamines - he's still suspended now IIRC. I don't think either of them would really have been particularly performance enhancing though...

[courageous]

FIA conform to Olympic level drug testing (or certainly did a few years ago, can't think why they would stop).

[RedYellowGreen]

I had a novice B racing licence in the mid 90s and seem to remember a racing school instructor explaining that drug testers could possibly turn up to even the lowliest club event at random although I never saw them myself. It makes sense really becuase as well as possibly enchancing performance drink or drugs of some sorts could be fatal in such an enviroment.

[ringerz]

Back in the late 80's, early 90's my Dad used to be a tester and I can remember getting to go along to the British Motorcycle Grand Prix on a couple of occassions. I was only 7 years old at the time so it was pretty cool getting close to your heroes - although my slightly random waiting around for my Dad to get professional sportsmen to p*ss in a cup...

Highlight had to be a Group C sportscar race at Donnington in 91 I think. Marabaldi and Wendlinger in the Sauber Mercedes and Brundle in the Silk Cut Jag! Ended up being late home as Brundle was so dehydrated after the race he couldn't "produce" a sample...

[hullbilly]

If any of you have access, they mention it in the autosport - paddock life from the Chinese GP.

http://plus.autosport.com/free/feature/3444/behind...

Apparently the chinese use banned substances in there meat production and drivers had to be very careful of what they ate.

[Graham]

Even national level is subject to the full IOC banned substance list.. the msa do do the odd random test, a mate of mine has been tested after a race... the stuff on the list is massive...it wouldnt be dificult to get caught out if your not a proffesional sportsman, some cold remedies and cough medicines are on there..