Trainer Jeff Mullins 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. The ruling was released by the California Horse Racing Board Jan.7.
The agreement between the two parties says that Mullins must serve the first 15 days and that the remainder of the suspension will be 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, the 15 days of stayed suspension will be "imposed following a notice and hearing."
During his suspension, all licenses and license privileges are also suspended and Mullins will be "denied access to all premises in this jurisdiction."
The clenbuterol positive, which the CHRB rules define as a Class 3 violation, was detected in the 6-year-old Violence gelding Inch , who won an Aug. 25 starter allowance race going five furlongs over the Del Mar turf.
Clenbuterol is a medication that can be used therapeutically to assist horses with respiratory difficulties but because it also has muscle development properties similar to anabolic steroids, many regulators and racetracks have banned or restricted its use.
