New Mexico horse trainer John Stinebaugh’s race horses tested positive for Viagra last July at Ruidoso Downs and the regulators are announcing his consequences.
According to ABC News, Stinebaugh has four suspensions which equals to 16 years and a $40,000 fine, not to mention he must forfeit $8,000 in purses, said Vince Mares, Racing Commission Executive, as reported by the Associated Press.
These rulings were issued on Monday after a Saturday hearing.
The drug in question is “Sildenafil citrate” which is the ingredient in the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra. It is illegal for horse racing, because it affects the cardiac output and increases a race horse’s performance, reports the Albuquerque Journal.
The drug was tested during the July 5-6 trials for competitions at Ruidoso Downs.
Sildenafil is a Class 3 drug which has a Class A penalty, according to the Association of Racing Commissioners International, which is the most severe penalty out of the three categories, reports the Journal.
Stinebaugh could appeal the decision by Thursday to a panel of department staff.
image: Wikimedia Commons
