Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA)-related rulings from around the country.
The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU)'s “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.
Among this week's rulings, trainer Shivananda Parbhoo has been banned two years and fined a combined $35,000 (including arbitration costs) for a January clenbuterol positive, according to the written final decision by an arbitral body.
The Parbhoo-trained American Speed tested positive for the bronchodilator clenbuterol, which is a banned substance permitted under very specific circumstances, after finishing second at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 5.
According to the final decision, Parbhoo believed a supplement used on American Speed called “Body Builder” was the possible source of clenbuterol. An open bottle of “Body Builder” provided by Parbhoo was found to contain clenbuterol, but an unopened bottle of the supplement (obtained from the manufacturer) tested negative for clenbuterol.
Parbhoo then argued how, because he did not spike the “Body Builder” supplement with clenbuterol and has no knowledge of his employees doing the same, “he must have been the victim of sabotage by another trainer or someone who was upset with him for having won American Speed in a Claiming Race,” according to the final decision.
Another component of the trainer's argument concerned doubts over the analytical processes used by the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory (PETRL), which ran the “B” sample, that could have resulted in a “false positive,” according to the final decision. Both “A” and “B” samples tested positive for clenbuterol.
The Pennsylvania lab lost its probationary HISA Equine Analytical Laboratory (HEAL) accreditation for a period of six months, beginning in July.
Ultimately, the arbitrator decided that there was “no evidence to substantiate the sabotage theory” put forward by Parbhoo, according to the final decision.
“The sabotage theory advanced by Mr. Parbhoo is highly speculative and is far from persuasive. His argument that he did all that he could and had no fault or no significant fault for the Clenbuterol positive, falls far short of what is expected of a Covered Person in order to benefit from the No Fault or Negligence or No Significant Fault of Negligence provisions of the ADMC Program Rules 3224 and 3225,” the final decision states.
Furthermore, the arbitrator also ultimately found that there was “no irregularity in the analysis of American Speed's 'B' Sample, that would have resulted in a false positive,” making them “satisfied” that the Pennsylvania laboratory processed American Speed's “B” Sample consistent with laboratory standards and guidelines, according to the final decision.
Also this week, trainer Ray Handal has been banned a total of 22 days and fined a total of $3,500 for three separate dexamethasone positives from earlier this year. Dexamethasone is a class C controlled substance. The 22-day ban (a 15-day and 7-day suspension ran consecutively) begins Sept. 4.
Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 09/03/2025
Licensee: Michael Sabine, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol-a Class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Flattery's Music, who finished second at Finger Lakes on 7/22/25.
Date: 09/03/2025
Licensee: Raymond Handal, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on September 4, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horses' Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. The following cases are treated as one violation. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violations for the presence of Dexamethasone-a Class C controlled substance-in samples taken from Valtellina, who won at Aqueduct on 4/10/25; and from Makeyourmoment, who finished fifth at Aqueduct on 4/23/25.
Date: 09/03/2025
Licensee: Raymond Handal, trainer
Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on September 11, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone-a Class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Valtellina, who won at Belmont at the Big A on 5/16/25.
Date: 09/02/2025
Licensee: Jerry Dixon, Jr., trainer
Penalty: A written reprimand. Admission.
Explainer: As per HIWU, this case concerned Rule 3510(a), “Engaging in disruptive or offensive conduct towards Sample Collection Personnel or any other person involved in Doping Control that does not rise to the level of Tampering.”
Date: 09/02/2025
Licensee: William Robert Bailes, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone-a Class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Next Girl, who finished second at Laurel Park on 6/6/25.
Date: 08/29/2025
Licensee: Carlos Perez, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 30, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-a Class B controlled substance-in a sample taken from Navy Cross, who won at Gulfstream Park on 5/16/25.
Date: 08/28/2025
Licensee: Jane Cibelli, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone-a class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Inveigled, who finished second at Laurel Park on 6/21/25.
Date: 08/28/2025
Licensee: Kay Cooper, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-a Class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Precise Timing, who won the Kent Stakes at Emerald Downs on 7/20/25.
Date: 08/28/2025
Licensee: Shivananda Parbhoo, trainer
Penalty: 2-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 27, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results obtained on 01/05/25 and 01/24/25, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $25,000; payment of $10,000 towards arbitration costs. Final decision by arbitral body.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Clenbuterol-a banned substance permitted under certain circumstances-in a sample taken from American Speed, who finished second at Gulfstream Park on 1/5/25.
Date: 08/27/2025
Licensee: Helen Alice Beckman, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Pentoxifylline-a class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Stand Up Charlie, who finished fifth at Belterra Park on 7/17/25.
Date: 08/27/2025
Licensee: Francisco Rivera, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Triamcinolone-a Class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Pizzicato, who finished second at Gulfstream Park on 7/12/25.
Pending ADMC Violations
09/03/2025, Rogelio Labra, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-a class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Yolo Santiago on 8/4/25.
08/29/2025, Joseph D. Davis, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone-a class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Klay B Even Money on 8/1/25.
08/28/2025, Sydney Fried, trainer: Pending violation for Rule 3510(b), which concerns the “Refusal/failure to cooperate promptly and completely with HISA/HIWU under the ADMC Program Rules; Rule 3510(d)–Refusal/failure without compelling justification to comply with any other provision of the ADMC Program Rules (where such refusal or failure does not constitute an Anti-Doping Rule Violation),” as per HIWU. There is currently no more detailed explanation.
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