The drug is a Class 2 drug and used in humans to treat high blood pressure -- high potential to effect/improve performance.
This suspension had to do with the two positive tests from CA -- that's it. Thus, he has been suspended by the CHRB. Autrey is no longer racing horses in CA. So, them "going easy" on him is nonsense. The positives were from last year, July (Del Mar), if my memory serves me correct. I believe there was an appeal, split sample, hearing and all. I also believe there were some issues here, but I don't know the details -- which has nothing to do with the bottom line . . . two positive tests. Period.
Thus, the end result was that he got 30 days and 23 of them were stayed contingent upon him not having any further violations for one year (from today, not last year, thus, July 2009). His horses at Lone Star will be raced by his assitant, Kevin (I don't remember his last name).
As a side note -- there is another positive test that Autrey just dealt with. He will have to take another 15 days for a positive earlier this year (at OP I think). I think that one was Class 4 (some muscle relaxant).
As far as I know, these are the 3 positive tests he's had. So, the issue is -- were these to light? Should he not have been able to stay the 23? Or, more on point -- for these 3 positives, should he get a year? Two? Five?
Eric
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