Jeff Mullins, a trainer from California, has been fined $1,500 and suspended 30 days (Jan. 9 – Feb. 7) in a “settlement agreement and mutual release” for a clenbuterol positive in a horse he trained last year.
Clenbuterol, a medication that can be used therapeutically to assist horses with respiratory difficulties (though it also has muscle-building properties), is banned or restricted by many regulators and racetracks.
The agreement between the two parties states that Mullins will serve the first 15 days of his suspension and that the remainder of the suspension will have stayed.
The ruling also stated that Mullins will be on probation for one year from the date of the ruling, and may not have any violations of CHRB rules and regulations regarding Class I, II, or III drug substances. If the trainer violates the condition of probation, 15 days will be added to his suspension following notice and hearing.
All licenses and license privileges are suspended for a period of time, and the horse will be denied access to all premises in this jurisdiction.
The horse Violence Gelding Inch, who won an August starter allowance race at Del Mar going five furlongs on turf, tested positive for clenbuterol. The violation was classified as a Class 3 by the CHRB.