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SPORTS Wednesday 25 OctOber 2017

Iditarod sled dog race is engulfed in dog-doping scandal

By RACHEL D’ORO and accused the Iditarod of lax of time and at the dog lot
MARK THIESSEN security at dog-food drop- in Nome, where thousands
Associated Press off points and other spots. of huskies are kept after the
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) Race officials said he will race before they are flown
— Cycling. Baseball. Track. not be punished because home. “Unfortunately I do
Horse racing. Now dogsled- they were unable to prove think another musher is an
ding has become the latest he acted intentionally. That option,” he said. He add-
professional sport to be en- means he will keep his titles ed: “There are also people
gulfed in a doping scandal, and his $59,000 in winnings who are not fans of mush-
this one involving the hus- this year. ing as a whole. They are
kies that dash across the But the finding was another numerous videos out that
frozen landscape in Alas- blow to the Iditarod, which are trying to say mushing
ka’s grueling, 1,000-mile Idi- has seen the loss of major is a bad thing. And I can
tarod. sponsors, numerous dog see somebody doing this
The governing board of deaths, attacks on com- In this March 15, 2016, file photo Dallas Seavey posing with his to promote their agenda.”
the world’s most famous petitors and pressure from lead dogs Reef, left, and Tide after finishing the Iditarod Trail Sled Seavey said whoever gave
sled dog race disclosed animal rights activists, who Dog Race in Nome, Alaska. the drug to the dogs knew
Monday that four dogs say huskies are run to death Associated Press it would cause a positive
belonging to four-time Idi- or left with severe infections ment of the huskies, said, first 20 teams to cross the test, and “that should make
tarod champion Dallas and bloody paws. “The race is all about win- finish line are all automati- me and my people the
Seavey tested positive for People for the Ethical Treat- ning and getting to the cally tested. least likely suspect.” Earlier
a banned substance, the ment of Animals seized on finish line despite the inhu- “I did not give a drug to this year, the Iditarod lost
opioid painkiller Tramadol, the scandal Tuesday. mane treatment towards my dog. I’ve never used a major corporate backer,
after his second-place fin- “If a member of the Iditar- the dogs.” a banned substance in Wells Fargo, and race offi-
ish last March. od’s ‘royalty’ dopes dogs, Seavey won the annual the race,” the 30-year-old cials accused animal rights
It was the first time since the how many other mushers Anchorage-to-Nome trek Seavey said in an interview. organizations of pressuring
race instituted drug testing are turning to opioids in or- in 2012, 2014, 2015 and He said Tramadol is not the bank and other spon-
in 1994 that a test came der to force dogs to push 2016 and has had nine used at his kennel, and it is sors with “manipulative in-
back positive. through the pain?” PETA straight top-10 finishes. He “incredibly unlikely” it was formation” about the treat-
Seavey strongly denied giv- said in a statement. It add- finished second this year to accidentally administered ment of the dogs.
ing any banned substanc- ed: “This doping scandal is his father, Mitch, who col- by anyone on his team. Five dogs connected to this
es to his dogs, suggesting further proof that this race lected a first-place prize of Instead, he complained year’s race died, bringing
instead that he may have needs to end.” $71,250. of inadequate security total deaths to more than
been the victim of sabo- Fern Levitt, director of the Dogs are subject to ran- at checkpoints along the 150 in the Iditarod’s 44-year
tage by another musher or documentary “Sled Dogs,” dom testing before and route where dog food is history, according to PETA’s
an animal rights activist. He an expose on the treat- during the race, and the dropped off weeks ahead count.q
Dave Sarachan to coach

U.S. for exhibition at Portugal

CHICAGO (AP) — Dave the 2019 CONCACAF Gold ward for Rochester, played
Sarachan, the top assistant Cup and is expected to with several indoor teams
to Bruce Arena, will be the overhaul its program during and became an assistant
interim coach for the Unit- the more than five years it to Arena at the University of
ed States when the Ameri- has to prepare for the 2022 Virginia from 1984-87.
cans play an exhibition at World Cup. After a decade as head
European champion Portu- U.S. Soccer Federation coach at Cornell, his alma
gal on Nov. 14. President Sunil Gulati hasn’t mater, Sarachan rejoined
Arena quit Oct. 13, three said whether he intends to Arena as an assistant at
days after the Americans run for a fourth four-year D.C. United (1997-99) and
lost 2-1 at 99th-ranked term in February. the U.S. national team
Trinidad and Tobago and The U.S. is expected to (1999-2002). Sarachan
failed to qualify for next have a training camp in coached the Chicago Fire
year’s World Cup. January followed by an ex- of the MLS from 2002-07,
The rest of Arena’s staff will hibition game or two. The then worked with Arena at
remain on for next month’s Americans could play a the LA Galaxy from 2008- In this July 1, 2017, file photo, U.S. coach Bruce Arena, left, and
assistant coach Dave Sarachan watch team introductions for
game. pair of matches during the 16 before joining him on an international friendly soccer match against Ghana in East
The U.S. doesn’t have a March FIFA dates. the national team late last Hartford, Conn.
competitive match until Sarachan, 63, was a for- year.q Associated Press