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Churchill Downs Bans Racehorse Trainer Bob Baffert for 2 Years
By Jeff Osienya Jun 03, 2021 IndustryChurchill Downs Inc. has banned Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for two years. Medina Spirit, the Kentucky Derby winner, has tested positive for elevated Betamethasone levels beyond acceptable thresholds in a second post-race drug test.Bob Baffert, the Hall of Fame trainer, has received a suspension notice from Churchill Downs, the host of the Kentucky Derby, for a two-year period. This suspension comes after Craig Robertson, Baffert’s attorney, confirmed that the positive post-race drug test of Medina Spirit taken in early May was upheld by a second test.
In the second post-race drug test announcement, Robertson disclosed that the examined sample this time exhibited 25 picograms of the Betamethasone steroid in Medina Spirit’s system. In the first post-race drug test conducted about a month ago, Medina Spirit’s blood sample tested positive 21 picograms of the said substance per milliliter. Once again, this follow-up test indicates that the American Thoroughbred racehorse won the 2021 Kentucky Derby tournament with more than double the legal threshold of Betamethasone.
The suspension punishment is effective immediately, and it will last until the end of the Churchill Downs 2023 Spring Meet racing festival. In addition, all the trainers that are employed both directly and indirectly by Bob Baffert Racing Stables have also been suspended from the Churchill Downs Racetrack for the same period.
After the confirmation of the second post-race drug test on Wednesday, Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen released a press statement saying in part:
Quote“Reckless practices and substance violations that jeopardize the safety of our equine and human athletes or compromise the integrity of our sport are not acceptable, and as a company we must take measures to demonstrate that they will not be tolerated. Mr. Baffert’s record of testing failures threatens public confidence in thoroughbred racing and the reputation of the Kentucky Derby. Given these repeated failures over the last year, including the increasingly extraordinary explanations, we firmly believe that asserting our rights to impose these measures is our duty and responsibility.”
Baffert’s Team Still in Defense Mode, Pointing Fingers at a Prescribed Ointment
When disclosing the second post-race drug test results, Robertson, Baffert’s attorney, went ahead and gave his team’s side of the story. According to him, the high quantities of Betamethasone come from an anti-fungal ointment known as Otomax used to treat Medina Spirit’s dermatitis. Robertson tried to clarify the matter yesterday in a statement to CNN, saying:
Quote“Medina Spirit split sample confirmed the finding of Betamethasone at 25 picograms. There is other testing that is being conducted, including DNA testing. We expect this additional testing to confirm that the presence of the Betamethasone was from the topical ointment, Otomax, and not an injection. At the end of the day, we anticipate this case to be about the treatment of Medina Spirit’s skin rash with Otomax. We will have nothing further to say until the additional testing is complete.”
Even before the positive confirmation of the second post-race blood test, the New York Racing Association had also taken action against Baffert. On May 18th, the NYRA smacked Baffert with a temporary suspension which prohibits him from admitting any horses at the Belmont Park.
The NYRA disclosed that it is waiting for an update from the KHRC before taking further action against the Hall of Fame Trainer. Belmont Stakes, the third and final race of the Triple Crown, is scheduled to occur at Belmont Park this Saturday, June 5th.
Investigations Ongoing Before Final Confirmation of the Doping Allegations
For now, it is still too early to tell how the case will unfold as one more test remains before any verdict can be issued by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC). The KHRC is the only body with the authority of stripping Medina Spirit the Kentucky Derby win and award it to Mandaloun, the runner-up.
And by the way, even before Baffert and his team forfeits the prize money should the win be nullified, he’d still have an opportunity to appeal the validity of the original post-race blood test result. Currently, the KHRC hasn’t commented on the matter, and sources indicate that it is still conducting investigations per its rules and regulations.
The Executive Director of Animal Wellness Action, Mart Irby, also chimed in on the matter on Wednesday, suggesting that Baffert is guilty, given his prior misconduct cases. He said in a statement:
Quote“The news of Medina Spirit’s second test confirmed positive is no shock. Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby, and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission must stand firmly together in agreement to take the 2021 Derby title away from Bob Baffert and the horse.”
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