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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-AU link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><h1>Dozens charged in international horse doping scheme<o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/f17a42e8441ae045e2ad817cef6f5b13"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=650 height=365 style='width:6.7708in;height:3.802in' id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D5F784.D6562050" alt="Maximum Security crosses the line first in the Kentucky Derby in May last year before being disqualified Picture: Getty Images"></span></a>Maximum Security crosses the line first in the Kentucky Derby in May last year before being disqualified Picture: Getty Images<o:p></o:p></p><ul type=disc id=story-info><li class=story-infobyline style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'>By <strong><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Agencies</span></strong><o:p></o:p></li><li class=story-infotimestamp style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'>5:50PM March 10, 2020<o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=selectionshareable>More than two dozen people, including the trainer of champion Maximum Security, have been charged in what authorities describe as a widespread international scheme to drug horses.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable>Trainer Jason Servis, whose stable includes Maximum Security, winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup, has been charged with administering performance-enhancing drugs to that horse and others.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable>Maximum Security crossed the line first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby but was disqualified for interference and has since won four of his five high-profile races.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable>The charges against trainers, veterinarians and others are detailed in four indictments unveiled in Manhattan federal court.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable>Charges brought against the 27 people include drug adulteration and mis-branding conspiracy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable>Performance-enhancing drugs “were given to racehorses in an effort to increase their performance beyond their natural abilities,” William F Sweeney Jr, assistant director in charge of the FBI New York Office, said at a news conference.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable>“What actually happened to the horses amounted to nothing less than abuse.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable>“They experienced cardiac issues, overexertion leading to leg fractures, increased risk of injury, and, in some cases, death.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable> “Conversely, the human being involved in the scheme continued to line their purses as they manipulated this multibillion-dollar horse racing industry across the globe.” Authorities say the drugs can cause horses to over-exert themselves, leading to heart issues or death.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable>According to the indictments, other drugs used to deaden a horse’s sensitivity to pain to improve the horse’s performance could also lead to leg fractures. Authorities said participants in the fraud – affecting races in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky and the United Arab Emirates – misled federal and state regulators, US Customs and Border Protection agents, various state horse racing regulators and the betting public.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable>National Thoroughbred Racing Association president and chief executive Alex Waldrop called the charges “abhorrent”.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/5ba69d4749f4f88ae0e16186574aa6de"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=650 height=365 style='width:6.7708in;height:3.802in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D5F784.D6562050" alt="Trainer Jason Servis is among more than two dozen officials charged by authorities Picture: AP"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Trainer Jason Servis is among more than two dozen officials charged by authorities Picture: AP<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable>“There is no place in our sport for individuals who treat horses with disregard for their wellbeing or who undermine the integrity of our competition for personal gain,” Waldrop said.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable>Federal authorities searched barns in Florida and a manufacturing facility in Kentucky.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable>In the indictment, Servis is charged with giving Maximum Security a performance- enhancing drug called SGF-1000, recommending it to another trainer, and conspiring with a veterinarian to make it look like a false positive for another substance. The other trainer, Jorge Navarro, is among those charged. Servis is alleged to have given performance-enhancing drugs to “virtually all the racehorses under his control”.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable>“The charges in this indictment result from a widespread, corrupt scheme by racehorse trainers, veterinarians, PED (performance-enhancing drug) distributors and others to manufacture, distribute and receive adulterated and mis-branded PEDs and to secretly administer those PEDs to racehorses under scheme participants’ control,” an indictment reads.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=selectionshareable>“A sad day for racing but a long time coming,” trainer Graham Motion tweeted. “A good day for those who try to play by the rules, we will all be better for it.” One of Navarro’s horses, X Y Jet, who is named in one of the indictments as a recipient of performance-enhancing drugs, earned more than $3 million in winnings and died of an apparent heart attack in January.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>