Trainer McLean Robertson has been provisionally suspended by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit after one of his horses tested positive for a banned substance.
Johnny Up, a 5-year-old gelding who won a claiming race at Canterbury Park on June 4, 2023, has tested positive for altrenogest. Altrenogest belongs to the class of drugs called progestins and is used to suppress estrus (commonly called “heat” or “season”) in mares (female horses). It requires a veterinary prescription and is marketed under several brand names, including the equine products Regumate, Ovamed and Altren.
The notice was posted on the HIWU website.
HIWU rules ban the use of altrenogest in geldings, intact males, and spayed females.
On May 22, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's Anti-Doping and Medication Control program went into effect in most U.S. racing states, with much harsher sanctions for drug violations. HIWU is HISA's drug testing and enforcement arm.
The HISA/HIWU program puts drug violations into one of two categories: controlled medication substances that are permitted for therapeutic purposes, and banned substances. Individuals covered under HISA receive automatic provisional suspensions when charged with possession of or positive tests for banned substances. Controlled medication cases go through a hearing process before any sanctions are issued.
Under ARCI rules, altrenogest was a Drug Class 4, Penalty Class C in male horses only; there was no restriction in female horses. Class C penalties consisted of a minimum fine of $1,000, absent mitigating circumstances, as well as loss of purse and disqualification.
Robertson, a perennial leading trainer at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., has saddled over 1,500 winners in his career. He could not be reached for comment.
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