SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The New York State Gaming Commission is reported to be considering new equine drug testing regulations following its fines against race trainer Steve Asmussen.
US animal rights organisation PETA had undertaken a probe investigating Asmussen’s training methods. The investigation points the finger at the trainer and his assistant, Scott Blasi, with 14 allegations of equine doping during the 2013 Saratoga Race Course meet.
Reviewing the probe, the New York Commission fined Asmussen $10,000 for giving his horses a thyroid hormone injection within 48 hours of racing.
The hormone can be used to enhance racing performance, however Asmussen representatives stated that the trainer had used it for medical proposes. The trainer’s legal representatives further claimed that PETA allegations against their client had not merit.
In January PETA had made further doping allegations against Asmussen and Blasi, to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, of which they were cleared.
PETA executives have asked the New York Gambling Commission to create a new set of regulations stopping trainers from giving horses medical drugs in order to improve performance.
