Dog-doping scandal latest blow to Iditarod

The world’s most famous sled dog race has become engulfed in a doping scandal involving a four-time champion’s team of huskies, giving animalrights activists new ammunition in their campaign to end the gruelling 1,000-mile Iditarod.

The governing board of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race disclosed Monday four dogs belonging to Dallas Seavey tested positive for a banned substance, the opioid painkiller Tramadol, after his second-place finish in March.

It was the first time a test came back positive since the race instituted drug testing in 1994.

Seavey strongly denied administering any banned substances to his dogs, suggesting instead someone may have sabotaged their food and race officials said he would not be punished because they were unable to prove he acted intentionally. That means he will keep his titles and $59,000 in winnings this year.

But the finding was just the latest blow to the Iditarod, which has seen the loss of major sponsors, numerous dog deaths, attacks on competitors and pressure from animal-rights activists, who say the huskies are often run to death or left bleeding and desperately ill.

“If a member of the Iditarod’s ‘royalty’ dopes dogs, how many other mushers are turning to opioids in order to force dogs to push through the pain?” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said in a statement Tuesday.

Seavey won the Iditarod in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016. He finished second this year to his father Mitch.