Iditarod Champion Dallas Seavey Has Made Formal Request for Iditarod Dog Drug Tests

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Nov. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Four-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey made a formal demand this week for test results from race organizers that allegedly showed his dogs tested positive for a banned substance in this year's competition.

Seavey said the effort is important to ensure fairness, due process, to determine the testing process and methods, what results show, and the chain of custody of the samples that were taken as part of the determination by the Iditarod Trail Committee that four of his dogs in this year's event tested positive for the opioid pain reliever Tramadol.

"This effort isn't just to clear my name. The outcome of this is important to every musher, every dog, our fans, our sport, and our sponsors," Seavey said. "This is a demand for information for public transparency and to preserve the name of a sport that is part of me, part of my family, and part of history and tradition."

Seavey has consistently denied the allegations that he administered or that he had any knowledge that his dogs had been administered a banned substance. While the Iditarod Trail Committee did not have substantial evidence to assert that Seavey violated the rules of the Iditarod, Seavey seeks to be relieved of the suspicions these drug tests have instigated.

He has pointed out a series of problems with the allegations that four of his dogs showed signs of Tramadol. These include:

• His dogs, as are other mushers, are left mostly unattended for several hours after the race to allow them well-deserved rest (during which time tampering could occur).
• Every musher is very aware of drug testing and also knowledgeable that Tramadol is easily detected.
• The transparency of the testing process, test methodology, chain of custody of samples, and results from the race organizers, Iditarod Trail Committee, must be made public.

The Iditarod Trail Committee has received the request for the drug test results and Seavey is currently awaiting the receipt of the tests.  

"I believe this is the first positive step that can be taken to shed a public light on what has been alleged, to clear my good name, and to clear the name of our beloved sport," Seavey added. "I hope this effort helps all mushers and the race itself."

SOURCE Dallas Seavey