Florida's greyhound drug testing program used protocols that had been barred, according to a state judge who struck down the program Friday.
- Judge struck down state's greyhound drug testing rules
- Case was brought by trainers cited for cocaine in their dogs' systems
- State will now have to re-write testing protocols
Now the state will have to write a new policy to drug test racing greyhounds.
The case was brought by two greyhound trainers who were cited after their greyhounds tested positive for substances related to cocaine in 2016 and 2017. Their licenses were also suspended.
The dogs were tested by the state's Division of of Pari-Mutuel Wagering.
Administrative Law Judge Lawrence P. Stephenson said the agency used protocols for testing greyhound urine from a 2010 manual that had been barred. While the agency says it had ceased distributing the manual to employees, it also hadn't come up with new protocols for sampling urine. The judge found the agency was still essentially using the same protocols.
As a result, the two trainers will not be penalized. The ruling may also affect other pending greyhound drug testing cases.
When lawmaker not happy about the ruling is State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, who has pushed other legislation regulating greyhound racing:
Our state's drug testing program, which is literally the ONLY THING protecting greyhounds from abuse at Florida dog racing tracks, was just struck down by the courts. #Sayfie
— Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) December 22, 2017
The only reason the Florida Greyhound Association says the state drug testing program is flawed is because THEIR PPL GOT BUSTED GIVING 24 DOGS COCAINE! #sayfie
— Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) December 22, 2017