Via TD Thornton
On the day the nationwide thoroughbred drug test was turned over to the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Administration, Robert Williams, executive director of the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), revealed in that panel’s monthly meeting that three outstanding Purebred drug positive cases had not yet been adjudicated by the committee and remained at different stages of the regulatory process. physical.
That disclosure isn’t just timely because HISA launched its Anti-Doping and Drug Control program on May 22. Monday’s news of three additional tests not being adjudicated is important because of the potential problems. That unresolved case was made public nearly two weeks after a brawl broke out over 2-year-old champion Forte (Violence) failed the NYSGC drug test following victory at Saratoga Racecourse on September 5, 2022.
The discovery of meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in Forte’s system wasn’t all that controversy. A more concerning aspect of the matter is that Forte’s positivity is keep from the public for over nine months and was not disclosed until May 9, 2023, when the New York Times first revealed the story, citing sources as “two people familiar with the matter but not authorized to speak.” about it.”
On May 11, the NYSGC officially announced Forte’s removal from Hopeful and a $1,000 fine and 10-day suspension for coach Todd Pletcher. Those penalties were appealed, and both the NYSGC and Pletcher’s legal team argued back and forth, each openly blaming the other for causing lengthy delays in the process related to sample testing. separate and schedule a hearing for the manager.
Williams described three other currently untried drug trials being conducted “at independent, qualified, accredited laboratories, or pending a decision through a meeting of regulators.”
Commissioner John Crotty asked Williams, “Do you have a schedule to address them?”
Williams was quick to reply: “I don’t know the specifics of any of those cases,” he said.
Crotty replied, “Okay…” before NYSGC president Brian O’Dwyer intervened.
Mr. O’Dwyer concluded the discussion:
Williams noted that the outstanding Purebred drug positive cases are in effect through May 19, but the NYSGC will retain control of any samples taken through May 21.
Williams said the commission will also uphold its testing obligations in the mining race, “because HISA has yet to address that industry.” He added that there are two Standardbred drug trials pending.
Williams said that the Forte controversy caused the NYSGC’s changes to how it would handle any rulings that remained within the board’s control.
“Changes to the sample separation process were designed to reduce the ability of the affected party to manipulate the system,” Williams said.
“Without exceptional circumstances, from now on, a coach notified of a positive drug offense will have no more than two weeks to identify and sort out,” Williams said. for testing the cleavage sample.
“In addition, when the sample separation results are returned, the manager’s meeting must be conducted within three weeks. If a coach cannot appear within three weeks, they will be deemed to have waived their appearance in front of the managers constructively and the matter will continue,” Williams said.
After Williams completed his report, O’Dwyer said he wanted to express “my thanks and thanks to the committee members for setting the record regarding the Pletcher matter.”
O’Dwyer continued: “I think it’s very important, and unfortunately, some of the reports that come out, [and] Our board and committee and staff should be commended for the way they handled it. I understand that there is some time difference. But they did all they could to give Mr. Pletcher substantial legal action, and I’m happy for that. [Williams] was able to correct the record for that matter.
Pletcher’s attorney, Karen Murphy, issued a contrast summary about the delay for TDN back on May 11.
“One point I would like to address first is that the game committee has stated two or three times that we have somehow delayed the process,” Murphy said at the time. “It shocked me a bit because it was untrue. I don’t like government regulators making false claims. [From] The first day, we did this. This delay is purely due to gaming commissions. That’s because they were not prepared to conduct the case in a professional and orderly manner.”
