Trainer Phil Schoenthal has received a provisional suspension following two of his horses' positive drug tests, as reported on the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) website. The HIWU serves as the enforcement body for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).
The prohibited compound is acknowledged as a substance that individuals commonly misuse, and HISA is currently in the midst of revising its regulations concerning these types of substances. In late 2023, HISA proposed new rules to the Federal Trade Commission that would enable comprehensive inquiries into potential "human transfers" before implementing a temporary suspension. Nevertheless, the latest regulations have yet to be released for public feedback and are expected to undergo approval in the coming months.
Meanwhile, according to the Daily Racing Form, trainers who test positive for methamphetamine do not have their results published on the HIWU website until they are verified through a second sample. Next, the trainer will be subject to a 60-day temporary suspension, which will be put on hold during the investigation of the case. According to Alexa Ravit, a spokesperson for HIWU, the recommended penalty for drugs of human abuse is now a 60-day suspension.
Both of Schoenthal's positive drug tests were recorded at Laurel Park. Prodigy Doll was the subject of the initial encounter on January 28, and Determined Driver was the subject of the subsequent interaction on February 9.