Horse Tests Positive For Illegal Drugs

Horse trainer Larry Jones has one of the best reputations in horse racing. But now, his flawless record is at stake. One of the horses he trains failed a recent drug test, and Jones is crying fowl. Horse trainer Larry Jones, a prominent critic of drug use in horse racing says he hasnt given a horse a steroid in eleven years. Now, Jones is in hot water, one of the colts he trains tested positive for illegal levels of a drug called Clenbuterol. "Weve gone to the test barn 10 times this week and nothings shown up but this one owners horse and we feel like its without a doubt sabotage." Clenbuterol is a bronchial cleaner that helps clean mucus out of the horses lungs. But it also helps burn fat and promotes muscle growth, making high levels of the drug illegal. "I am the only one who gives medicine in this barn so I know." Ron Geary of Ellis Park knows Jones and says theres absolutely no way he would drug a horse. "It would have to be sabotage or a lab test mistake." Jones isnt pointing fingers, but says many organizations and people have been trying to blemish his clean reputation since Eight Bells went down after racing in the Kentucky Derby. "Its a very competitive field. Sometimes people go over the line as far as competition is involved." Eight Belles collapse sparked congress to meet and discuss the use of steroids in horse racing. Some argue that state to state rules are too loose. In Kentucky, its legal to race horses on drugs. But that never phased Jones, who says the repercussions for the horses arent worth it. They hurt the horses reproduction and theyre more prone to heart attacks. "Were clean, we run what we think is a high integrity place." Jones says for whatever reason his colt tested positive, he had nothing to do with it. If Jones is found guilty or negligent hell be fined 500 dollars and suspended for one week. Some say thats nothing compared to the smear it could leave on his reputation.