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Editors Note: Below is an
article writing by David Screws of ATV Racin' Extra.
The opinions expressed are those of the article's
author and are presented without editing; names,
addresses, and phone numbers. For more information
about this article or need to express your opinion
to the author, please contact them at, ATV Racin’
Extra / David & Jessica Screws / Ph: 731-644-0534
/ Fax: 731-644-3803 / Email:
info@atvracinextra.com.
ATV Racin' Extra To Propose
Stringent Substance Abuse Rules
David and Jessica Screws, publishers of ATV Racin’
Extra, are in the formative stages of collecting
the data and documentation necessary to present
a comprehensive list of substance abuse rules to
the AMA/ATVA congress for consideration as rule
changes for 2006. After numerous members of the
ATV racing family, especially those involved with
the national series’, expressed their concern and
suspicion that drugs were being used, both on and
off the track, it was determined that this abuse
should be stopped in its’ tracks before the problem
became widespread.
"I have first hand knowledge of the pitfalls
of drug abuse." stated publisher David Screws. "I
am a recovering and reformed addict and alcoholic
who has been clean and sober for ten years. A few
years ago, I would have been ashamed to tell people
what I’d been through, but now, I know that my past
addiction puts me in a place to let people know
how dangerous any and all drug abuse can be. There
are absolutely no good things that can come from
drug abuse, regardless of how minor one’s use might
be."
Screws added, "To hear that drug abuse has possibly
infiltrated our sport concerns me and a whole lot
of other people. The racing world is no place for
drugs and a zero tolerance policy should be implemented
which deals out severe penalties for anyone associated
with ATV racing caught using a controlled substance
or a performance enhancing drug. We can’t afford
to have our sport’s image tarnished at this time
when public recognition is growing and factory support
is on the upswing."
ATV Racin’ Extra is currently seeking information
from various scientific and legal sources which
will enable the development of a set of rules specifically
designed to fit the needs of the ATV racing community.
Included in their proposal will be rules governing
the selection of persons who exhibit reasonable
suspicion of drug abuse, mandatory testing, procedures
for the collection of laboratory samples, handling
of these samples, testing of these samples, results
notification and a stringent set of penalties for
those found to be in violation of these rules.
"This is a problem we just can’t afford to deny."
Screws said in addition. "With more and more money
being funneled into our sport, the pressure for
talented racers to perform increases, and... with
this pressure comes the possibility that someone
may turn to drugs to give themselves an edge over
the competition. It happens in other sports more
frequently than we know and we would be naive and
irresponsible to deny that this problem exist within
our sport."
On a related note, ATV Racin' Extra has learned
through an AMA/ATVA representative that the possibility
exist for random drug testing to be carried out
this year before the end of the national season.
Anyone who would like to assist ATV Racin’ Extra
in its’ effort to establish a stringent substance
abuse policy for ATV racing should contact: ATV
Racin’ Extra / David & Jessica Screws / Ph: 731-644-0534
/ Fax: 731-644-3803 / Email:
info@atvracinextra.com.
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