AUGUSTA (AP) — The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has handed down punishments to seven harness-racing drivers and owners accused of providing a banned substance to horses.
WCSH-TV (http://on.wcsh6.com/287m12R ) reported all seven were convicted of providing cobalt to their hoses.
They are Steven Vafiades, Randy Bickmore, Patricia Switzer, Stephen Murchison, Drew Campbell, Allison McDonald and Frank Hiscock.
Cobalt is a banned substance that can boost the performance of horses. The substance can be harmful to a horse’s health, sometimes leading to death.
The punishments were a $2,250 fine and 450-day suspension for Vafiades, Bickmore, Switzer and Murchison, and a $1,250 fine and 270-day suspension for Campbell, who has womn more than 3,000 races.
All seven were also ordered to return purse money ranging from $1,200 to nearly $23,000.
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