UK Lab Report Demonstrates `Intentional Misrepresentations'

09/17/2024 09:43 AM

The report issued by Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) and Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) into HIWU's investigation of the University of Kentucky Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (UK-EACL) demonstrates multiple failures on the part of the lab and the lab director, Dr. Scott Stanley, including “intentional misrepresenations” of positive tests as negative, according to the report released Tuesday. The full report can be accessed here.

The report details the events leading up to the investigation, “including UK-EACL's persistent delays in reporting results, unprofessional staff behavior, and unresponsiveness to HIWU communications,” a press release from HIWU reports. “Ultimately, the catalyst for the commencement of the investigation was the discovery by HIWU of intentional misrepresentations that were made about Sample analysis.”

According to the press release, key findings of the six-month long investigation include:

• UK-EACL's failure to comply with mandatory testing specifications and instructions, including its standard operating procedures and sample analysis methods.

• UK-EACL misrepresented both its ability to test for specific substances, including erythropoietin (EPO), and the completion of analysis for certain substances on specific Samples.
• At the direction of UK-EACL Director Dr. Scott Stanley, the laboratory failed to perform confirmatory analysis on 91 samples whose initial screening showed the potential presence of a prohibited substance and therefore required follow-up, instead reporting the samples as negative.

As a result of these findings, HIWU re-analyzed and reconciled all remaining potentially affected Samples, and HISA has sought repayment from the University of Kentucky for the laboratory's non-compliant services.

“A key component of HIWU's mandate is to protect the integrity of Thoroughbred racing and resolve potential deficiencies as soon as possible,” said Ben Mosier, HIWU's executive director. “Through our decision to investigate UK-EACL and consequent discovery of ongoing deceitful activities, we're proud to have uncovered and halted these unacceptable practices that were unfair to our horsemen and put horses at risk.”

“HISA's and HIWU's actions to uncover these wrongdoings and quickly remedy them is a testament to how the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program is enhancing the integrity of our sport and ensuring fairness in competition,” said HISA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Lazarus. “We also thank the University of Kentucky for their partnership and cooperation in the investigation.”

To provide further assurance that the other Program Laboratories are in compliance with the ADMC Program requirements, HIWU has bolstered its Negative Sample Exchange Program and is preparing to implement HISA Equine Analytical Laboratory (HEAL) accreditation on January 1, 2025, the press release says. HEAL accreditation will include enhanced compliance oversight by HIWU and a more robust Equine Quality Assurance Scheme sample program. Currently, in a transitional phase, lab accreditation is handled by the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium. HISA/HIWU were initially required to utilize the services of UK-EACL under the requirements of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act.

HEAL accreditation will give HIWU a strengthened ability to ensure strict compliance by all Program Laboratories with all ADMC Program requirements, the report says.

On March 5, 2024, HIWU and HISA announced that HIWU was investigating the performance of the UK lab under HISA's ADMC program.

This story will be updated.

The post UK Lab Report Demonstrates `Intentional Misrepresentations’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.