Hornaday will not be penalized for steroid use

Sep 12, 2008 - 6:40 PM LOUDON, New Hampshire (Ticker) -- Defending NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. will not be penalized by NASCAR after admitting he used testosterone, NASCAR announced Friday.

Hornaday admitted to receiving shipments of testosterone and human growth hormone - and using testosterone - over a period from December 2004 to January 2006.

The testosterone and human growth hormone came from an anti-aging center that has been linked to drug-related scandals in the NFL and Major League Baseball, according to a report by ESPN on Thursday.

"Our substance abuse experts have told us the prescription Ron Hornaday used did not enhance his performance or impair his judgment. It is our understanding Ron had a very serious health issue, which is continuing to be addressed," said Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president of corporate communications.

Hornaday acknowledged taking testosterone when shown records from the Palm Beach (Florida) Rejuvenation Center during an interview at his home in North Carolina with an ESPN.com reporter on Tuesday.

Hornaday said he used the testosterone to treat what turned out to be a hyperactive thyroid.

"It is over and done with, he is cleared to race," Hunter said. "We don't see where Ron did anything wrong. Our substance policy is based on reasonable suspicion. If you talk to physicians, which I would encourage you to do, on a case-by-case basis, depending upon on what a person's condition is, then their prescriptions with all sorts of substances that are used for treatment, in some cases, those are acceptable. In Ron's case, it was back in '04, '05, it is over."

Hornaday, 50, is 94 points out of first place in this season's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings.