Rick Dutrow is in trouble again.
The outspoken trainer of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown is facing a 15-day suspension by Kentucky racing officials after another horse he trains exceeded the allowable limit for a drug that enables horses to breathe easier while exercising.
Two separate drug tests on 8-year-old gelding Salute the Count revealed the horse had twice the allowable limit of Clenbuterol in his system after finishing second in the Aegon Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on May 2, said John Veitch, chief state steward of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority.
Clenbuterol, considered a Class B drug by the KHRA, is often used by humans who suffer from asthma. The drug, which Veitch said contains some steroidal properties but is not considered a steroid, is sometimes used by trainers because of its ability to increase a horse's lung capacity.
“It's a respiratory enhancer,” Veitch said. “It's become quite popular in racing medication because it's used to train on.”
MORE HORSE RACING
Jockey Jeremy Rose apologized for striking his mount in the head with a whip, a day after he was given a six-month suspension at Delaware Park in Stanton, Del. Rose, who won the 2005 Preakness and Belmont Stakes aboard Afleet Alex, was suspended for striking Appeal to the City during Monday's third race.
OLYMPICS
Banned sprinter Justin Gatlin appealed a ruling by a federal judge in Florida that prohibits him from competing in this weekend's U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. His lawyer, Joseph A. Zarzaur Jr., asked the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta to block Olympics officials from barring Gatlin from the Trials before the court hears his case. Gatlin's event, the 100 meters, begins with qualifying Saturday.
Heptathlete Ryanne DuPree, who is aiming for a spot on the Olympic team this week at the U.S. Trials, received a warning for using asthma medication without getting the proper clearance from anti-doping authorities. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said DuPree tested positive in March at the USA Indoor Combined Events meet for the asthma medication Salbutamol, which is allowed only with an exemption.
The U.S. Olympic Committee is taking over USA Fencing's high performance program for this year's Olympics, citing financial problems for the sport's national governing body. The USOC said it will work to implement a long-term solution for USA Fencing after the Beijing Games.
NFL
The New York Giants guaranteed that their offensive line will stay together for the foreseeable future, signing guard Chris Snee to a six-year, $43.5 million contract extension. Since beating New England for the NFL title in February, the Giants have locked up three starters on the offensive line.
The Oakland Raiders signed former Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller to a contract and waived quarterback Erik Meyer. Keller was not drafted despite setting a school record last season by completing 63.1 percent of his passes for 2,422 yards and 14 touchdowns in nine games. But his season ended prematurely when he suffered a shoulder injury against Texas in October.
Offensive lineman Brad Butler signed a contract extension with the Buffalo Bills following a season in which he took over as starting right guard.
SPORTS AND COURTS
A man accused of robbing and beating Oakland Raiders receiver Javon Walker in Las Vegas told a judge that police pressured his girlfriend to press domestic violence charges against him before he was arrested in the Walker case. Arfat Fadel faces multiple felonies, including kidnapping, robbery, battery and conspiracy in the June 16 robbery and beating that left Walker,29, unconscious on a side street off the Las Vegas Strip.
A federal judge in New York cast doubt on the NBA's demand that disgraced referee Tim Donaghy pay nearly $1.4 million in restitution, saying he might not have to foot the bill for an internal review of refereeing done in the wake of the league's gambling scandal. U.S. District Judge Carol Amon, at a hearing in federal court in Brooklyn, ordered the NBA to produce more documents to support the claim before she makes a final decision on whether Donaghy must pay the $1.4 million as part of his punishment when he's sentenced on July 14.
NHL
The San Jose Sharks got off to a head start on their offseason moves, re-signing forwards Joe Pavelski and Jeremy Roenick and backup goaltender Brian Boucher, six days before the start of the free-agency period. Roenick and Boucher, who each received a one-year contract, would have become unrestricted free agents on July 1. Pavelski, who would have been a restricted free agent, got a two-year deal from the Sharks.
The Tampa Bay Lightning bought out the final season of goalie Marc Denis' contract. Denis, who appeared in 54 games with Tampa Bay, was due to earn $3 million next season.
CYCLING
France's anti-doping agency has already conducted tests on 30 Tour de France cyclists and plans more targeted checks before the race starts a week from Saturday.
BASEBALL
The International Baseball Federation plans to upgrade the sport in Europe. “Our tentative plans also include the launch of a professional baseball league in Europe in 2010 and beyond,” federation President Harvey Schiller said as he finished a visit to Cuba. Baseball's World Cup in September 2009 is being shifted from Cuba to seven European nations in an effort to bolster the sport's bid to get back into the Olympics, which eliminated baseball and softball from the 2012 Games in London during a vote in 2005.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Geno Auriemma signed a deal that will keep the Hall of Fame women's coach on Connecticut's sideline through 2013. University officials said the five-year, $8 million contract extension begins July 1 and includes a base salary of $300,000 the first year. Auriemma has led the Huskies to five national titles.
Duquesne basketball coach Ron Everhart was rewarded for turning around one of the nation's worst Division I basketball programs in only two seasons, signing a three-year contract extension that runs through the 2013-14 season.
– FROM NEWS SERVICES
