UPDATE: Levine's NJ horses get all clear

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Kasept

It's not that I know more. Did anyone really think a guy like Bruce Levine was going to use EPO? It's silly. He's been in the game 29 years and NEVER HAD A SINGLE VIOLATION. He's winning at a big clip.. knows that there's scrutiny.. and someone thought he'd jeopardize a 3 decade-long career using something like that? Just didn't make sense. If he is actually 'pressing the envelope', he's doing it the old-fashioned way...

It's sad that speculation comes down to it, but there are plenty of drugs, designer or not, that can boost red blood cell counts besides EPO. Did they test for Darbepoietin as well? How about the multitude of synthetic dirvatives developed to treat anemia in humans? I'd sleep better knowing that there is a full panel of these drugs tested for, not just EPO.
When someone is winning at a clip that he is winning at, and their horses fall apart off the claim the way that many of his tend to do, then it is hard to not expect someone to call shenanigans, proof or not.

Again, it is sad - A guy can't win - if he is successful, he'll be accused of cheating. If he loses, he'll get fired. I feel for all of them, they put on the show every day, and get nothing but a bullseye on their backs for it... I personally accept the fact that Leavine is above board and performing at a high level in a perfectly legal manner, because that is what we have to go on. I'd just think it wouldn't be that much more difficult or cost prohibitive to have a nationally sanctioned body run thorough tests via frozen samples.

[sumitas]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

It's sad that speculation comes down to it, but there are plenty of drugs, designer or not, that can boost red blood cell counts besides EPO. Did they test for Darbepoietin as well? How about the multitude of synthetic dirvatives developed to treat anemia in humans? I'd sleep better knowing that there is a full panel of these drugs tested for, not just EPO.
When someone is winning at a clip that he is winning at, and their horses fall apart off the claim the way that many of his tend to do, then it is hard to not expect someone to call shenanigans, proof or not.

Again, it is sad - A guy can't win - if he is successful, he'll be accused of cheating. If he loses, he'll get fired. I feel for all of them, they put on the show every day, and get nothing but a bullseye on their backs for it... I personally accept the fact that Leavine is above board and performing at a high level in a perfectly legal manner, because that is what we have to go on. I'd just think it wouldn't be that much more difficult or cost prohibitive to have a nationally sanctioned body run thorough tests via frozen samples.

Agreed Rudeboy...hope it happens soon.