You know I love the Iditarod, and one of my goals in life is to see it in person some day, so I hate to report this. However, I know many people have questions about the treatment of the dogs during this grueling race. The Associated Press is reporting (via ESPN) that several dogs tested positive for Tramadol, an opioid paid reiever, after the 2017 race.
The Iditarod governing board reports that all dogs who finish in the top 20 are tested. This year, in the first positive results since testing began in 1994, four of Dallas Seavey’s dogs turned up positive for Tramadol.
Dallas vehemently denies the charge, as shown in the video. He has withdrawn from the 2018 race in protest. Seavey has previously won four races, and came in 2nd (behind his father, Mitch Seavey) in 2017. He states he has “never knowingly broken any race rule” and was “thrown under the bus.” He believes the drugs may have been given to his dogs maliciously, but he expects he will be banned for life from the race.
Stay tuned for more details as they become available.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!