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Re: FW: [RC] WEC Doping - Diane Trefethen

While I whole heartedly agree that rules need to be enforced, it is contrary to our American traditions to hold a person guilty until proven innocent. If a person is accused of drugging his horse and the evidence presented by BOTH sides leads the Protest Committee to conclude that the person is guilty, THAT is when the fines, suspensions, whatever should be imposed. To suspend a person before he is allowed to hear the evidence against him or defend himself against charges is wrong.

In the case brought up by Tracey, the horse's owner fed the horse a LEGAL supplement that was not formulated with any illicit compound. Careless handling of the lots of the supplement by the manufacturer led to the lots becoming contaminated with a prohibited substance. In this instance, although the horse was indeed "doped", punishing the owner would have required a finding that an owner be expected to know not only "what is going into the horse", but also what has happened to all the horse's feed at every stage of processing, a clearly unreasonable expectation. Furthermore, in this case, such a finding would also have actively prevented the advancement of an otherwise qualified animal's progress towards the WEG.

Far more disturbing is that WHEN a person has been found guilty of a transgression and sanctions imposed, as was the case for the trainer who killed some horses for the insurance money, the guilty person is allowed to continue pursuing his trade in violation of said sanctions. Now THAT is despicable.


For my money there has to be enforcement. If there is an incident where the physical evidence points to drug use then first there is an immediate disqualification of the horse. There is a three month suspension of the owner for an investigation. If it tuns out that the owner did not give the drug they can be reinstated. If the evidence points to the owner - and physical evidence is very strong - there some be punitive sanctions levied. However, I would contend that there should be a very high burden of proof required to overrule the physical evidence.

Truman


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Replies
FW: [RC] WEC Doping, Tracey Lomax
Re: FW: [RC] WEC Doping, Truman Prevatt