George Weaver is the latest trainer to face the possibility of a lengthy suspension after first and second tests showed the presence of metformin in a post-race sample of one of his horses .
According to Weaver’s attorney, Andrew Mollica, the trainer was informed on May 15 that the “B sample,” also known as the split sample, confirmed the initial discovery of the commonly used diabetes drug. human use, a banned substance according to the Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority. Anti-doping and drug control program. The horse involved is by Triple M Racing Stable Anna’s wish who finished third in the March 16 Cicada Stakes at Water racetrack.
Weaver was temporarily suspended pending an interim hearing before an arbitrator. According to Alexa Ravit, communications director for HIWU, such hearings are typically held within a few weeks of the request and a decision is typically made within a few days of the hearing.
Weaver’s currently entered horses are eligible to race, although future races are not permitted due to the temporary suspension, and the approximately 75 horses in his stable will be sent to the other training.
Horse trainers who test positive for what HIWU considers a banned substance will face a suspension of up to two years, although there is also the possibility of much lighter penalties in extenuating circumstances. . Weaver could also be fined, have the horse disqualified and be suspended from racing for a period of time.
Weaver is the seventh trainer to test positive for metformin since the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit took over the ADMC Program almost a year ago. Metformin is one of the most prescribed drugs in the United States, used to treat type 2 diabetes in humans.
“The reality is: the groom is on metformin,” Mollica said. “I provided (HIWU) his prescription. He is the source of this pollution.”
In a similar case, in which a trainer argued that a groom had exposed his horse, Mike Lauer received a 75-day ineligibility period, 60 days ineligibility for his horse. himself, stripped of ownership of the horse and fined $2,600. HIWU concluded that placed Lauer’s “level of error at a low level,” a report said.
Other coaches, such as Jonathan Wong and Angel Castillo Sanchez, received metformin suspensions of 24 months and 18 months, respectively. The other positive cases were removed after an internal review by HIWU found that not all participating laboratories applied the same detection limits in analyzing samples for the presence of of metformin.
HISA ADMC Committee Chairman Adolpho Birch has previously defended the drug as a banned substance, writing that it has “no recognized use in thoroughbreds” and that some studies “suggest that metformin may effective in enhancing performance”.
“To date, positive cases of Metformin under the ADMC Program have been extremely rare,” he added.
Before HISA and HIWU, when administered by the racing commission, cases involving drug violations often took a long time to adjudicate and appeals were handled through the court system. Now, Mollica argues that the burden of proof lies with the defendant.
“This is out in the open. This is not Navarro or Servis,” he said, referring to Jorge Navarro and Jason Servis, two disgraced trainers sentenced to prison for using unapproved drugs on horses their.
“I have to fight this case,” he added. “The punishment does not fit the crime charged. It is disproportionate.”
