Medina Spirit is a step closer from having his win in the Kentucky Derby disqualified. A second post-race drug test for Medina Spirit reportedly came back positive for betamethasone, according to Joe Drape of the New York Times.
The first positive test for Medina Spirit was revealed May 9. Following that positive, Medina Spirit's trainer Bob Baffert said he would fight the test result. He initially blamed cancel culture for Medina Spirit's positive test before admitting he treated Medina Spirit with an ointment that contained betamethasone.
Clark Brewster, an attorney representing Medina Spirit owner Amr Zedan, is pushing for Medina Spirit's blood or urine to be tested for other compounds, which was not done during the second test. Brewster believes that could prove Medina Spirit's positive tests came as a result of "an inadvertent and materially inconsequential contamination sourced from a topical ointment used to treat Medina Spirit for a skin lesion on his hip," as opposed to an injection, which is typically how the corticosteroid is administered.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission will send Medina Spirit's blood and urine to be tested for other compounds at an independent facility.
Despite the first positive, Medina Spirit was allowed to run in the Preakness. The horse finished third at the event.
What will happen to Medina Spirit after second positive test?
When the first positive test was announced, Churchill Downs said it would take further steps if Medina Spirit's split sample came back positive. It's possible that could result in Medina Spirit being disqualified from the Kentucky Derby.
If that happens, it would mark the second time in the race's history that a horse was disqualified after a positive drug test. Dancer’s Image was disqualified in 1968 after a drug test revealed a banned anti-inflammatory.
It's also unclear what will happen to Baffert. Medina Spirit's positive test marks the second time in a year one of Baffert's horses has tested positive for betamethasone. Baffert was suspended following Medina Spirit's first positive test.
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