NASCAR Cup Series: Matt Borland suspended indefinitely

Germain Racing crew chief Matt Borland has been suspended indefinitely by NASCAR for violating the sport’s Substance Abuse Policy.

Just over one week ago, a NASCAR driver was suspended for violating the league’s Substance Abuse Policy.

Now, a crew chief has been suspended for the reason.

Germain Racing’s Matt Borland, the Cup Series crew chief of Ty Dillon and the #13 Chevrolet, has been suspended after failing a random drug test issued by NASCAR. This test resulted in the discovery that DMAA (2-amino-5-methylhexanamine) was in his system.

Borland believes that he failed this drug test because off the diet coffee product that he had been drinking for the past several months.

Here is what he had to say about the matter, according to Racing News.

"“This past weekend I was informed by a NASCAR doctor that I had DMAA in my system. After the surprise of this and not even knowing what that was, I asked if it could have come from a diet coffee I have been drinking for the past six months. I gave the doctor all of the details of the coffee and ingredients, and after he researched it, he said he thought that this was the cause.“Even after doing my due-diligence, I felt comfortable in drinking the coffee. I plan to work with NASCAR to figure out what exactly has happened and resolve this issue as quickly as we can and will cooperate with them and do whatever is requested of me to make this situation right.”“I have worked in the NASCAR garage for 20 years now, and have never been a part of anything like this in my life. I take full responsibility for this incident and want to get it taken care of completely. I would like to sincerely apologize to my team, sponsors, associates, NASCAR and my family and I look forward to resolving this situation in an efficient manner.”"

Team owner Bob Germain Jr. confirmed Borland’s belief and states that DMHA (2-amino-5-methylheptane), which is a derivative of DMAA, was contained in the product that he had been drinking.

Here is what Germain had to say.

"“Matt Borland has informed me that he was notified by NASCAR that a random urinalysis showed a substance, DMAA that is impermissible under the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy. We reviewed the ingredients label on a coffee product that Matt had been drinking and it includes DMHA, a derivative of DMAA. Based upon the ingredients label we do not believe that Matt had reason to know that the coffee contained a banned substance.“However, we also understand and respect NASCAR’s decisions to strictly uphold their policies for each and every owner, driver and crew member in the garage. As an organization, we stand behind Matt. He has been and remains an integral part of our race team and we look forward to his return to the garage and pit box.”"