Four Time Iditarod Champion Dallas Seavey Clears Cloud of Suspicion in Doping Scandal

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Feb. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Four time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey has definitive proof that demonstrates the Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC) wrongly tied his name to dog doping allegations in the 2017 Iditarod.

An independent forensic drug testing expert has reviewed the documents provided by the ITC and has reached the following conclusions:

• Tramadol was administered to four of Seavey's dogs two to four hours after Seavey finished in second place in the 2017 Iditarod.
• The dosing of Seavey's dogs after the completion of the 2017 Iditarod supports intentional doping of his dogs by an unknown third party.
• The administration of Tramadol to Seavey's dogs after the 2017 Iditarod was potentially harmful to his dogs and would not have provided any competitive advantage to Seavey.

These facts constitute clear and convincing evidence that Seavey did not dope his dogs. Even the ITC, in January this year, publically acknowledged in the Anchorage Daily News that the organization did not have documents readily available and has had to gather them: "The ITC has been and continues to respond to Seavey's requests and has provided information as quickly as possible." The statement continued, "The ITC wants to re-emphasize that it does not place blame on Dallas Seavey regarding the positive urine drug test results in the canine team and will continue to not speculate on the circumstances surrounding the positive drug test of his four dogs."

Seavey has completed the Iditarod 11 times, winning the race four times (2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016). Seavey estimates that his dogs have been tested between 15 to 20 times by the Iditarod Trail Committee over the past decade, and he has never had a positive test before. Seavey reiterated that he believes the ITC has mishandled this process from the beginning and wants the public to understand that he did not administer any banned substance to his dogs.

Seavey is frustrated that the ITC did not undertake an independent review of the drug testing documents before releasing his name in connection with the positive test results. The ITC provided Seavey with the drug testing documents only after multiple requests. The documents provided by the ITC were provided to Dr. Patricia M. Williams, a renowned drug toxicology expert, who conducted an independent review.

On February 5, 2018, Dr. Williams issued a 21 page report which highlights the inadequacy of the laboratory testing protocols for Tramadol and the inaccuracies of the opinions of Dr. A. Morrie Craig, the Iditarod drug testing director. Based upon her review of the documents provided to Seavey by the ITC, Dr. Williams recommends that the ITC take the following steps:

• Convene an independent investigation to determine who administered Tramadol to Seavey's dogs.
• Review Iditarod security measures to ensure the integrity of the Iditarod and the safety of Iditarod dogs and mushers.
• Review the drugs identified on the handwritten sheet provided by the ITC which are not associated with Seavey's dogs.

"I strongly stand behind drug testing as it is an important procedure to ensuring the integrity of the sport and the safety of the dog athletes, but the ITC needs to implement its drug testing program with transparency and standards," said Seavey.

"I am looking forward to putting this debacle by ITC behind me. My name is cleared, but for the future of the sport I call on the ITC to improve its processes and place a higher value on preserving integrity and fairness for all mushers and dogs in the sport of sleddog racing," said Seavey. "I am ready to get back to doing what I love and do best—being with my dogs on the trail."

Dallas Seavey will continue to participate in the sport of sleddog racing, expanding his experiences this March by accomplishing his longtime goal of competing abroad. Seavey and his dogs will compete for the first time in Norway's Finnmarksløpet on March 9. 

SOURCE Dallas Seavey