Justify, the colt who in 2018 became one of only 13 horses to win the Triple Crown, reportedly failed a drug test that should have disqualified him from racing's most revered event, according to a New York Times report Wednesday.
Documents obtained by the Times allegedly show that Justify tested positive for a banned substance called scopolamine just weeks before the 2018 Kentucky Derby, the first of three races needed to earn the Triple Crown title. Rather than disqualifying the colt, the California Horse Racing Board took more than a month to confirm the test, according to the Times.
"Then, instead of filing a public complaint as it usually does, the board made a series of decisions behind closed doors as it moved to drop the case and lighten the penalty for any horse found to have the banned substance that Justify tested positive for in its system," the Times report said.
Documents obtained by the Times allegedly show that Justify tested positive for a banned substance called scopolamine just weeks before the 2018 Kentucky Derby, the first of three races needed to earn the Triple Crown title. Rather than disqualifying the colt, the California Horse Racing Board took more than a month to confirm the test, according to the Times.
"Then, instead of filing a public complaint as it usually does, the board made a series of decisions behind closed doors as it moved to drop the case and lighten the penalty for any horse found to have the banned substance that Justify tested positive for in its system," the Times report said.
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