US champion’s trainer charged with doping offences
Servis gave the drugs to ‘virtually all’ his horses
Case involves 27 people and races in US and UAE
The trainer of Maximum Security, last year’s American champion three-year-old, is among more than two dozen people charged in what authorities described as a widespread international scheme to drug horses to make them race faster.
Jason Servis, Maximum Security’s trainer, was charged with administering performanceenhancing drugs to that horse and others. Maximum Security was first past the post in the 2019 Kentucky Derby before being disqualified for interference and has since won four of his five high-profile races, including last month’s Saudi Cup, the world’s richest race.
The charges against trainers, veterinarians and others were detailed in four indictments unveiled yesterday in Manhattan federal court. Charges brought against the 27 people include drug adulteration and misbranding conspiracy.
Authorities said the charges related to races in the United States and the United Arab Emirates. In the indictment, Servis is charged with giving Maximum Security a drug called SGF-1000, recommending it to another trainer, and conspiring with a veterinarian to make it look like a false positive for another substance. The other trainer, Jorge Navarro, is also among those charged.
Servis is alleged to have given performance-enhancing drugs to “virtually all the racehorses under his control”.’ According to authorities, he entered horses in races approximately 1,082 times from 2018 through February 2020.
Authorities say the drugs can cause horses to overexert themselves, leading to heart issues or death.