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Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Among this week's rulings, trainer Jose Roberto Gonzalez Jr. has been suspended a combined 36 months and fined $25,000 for two out-of-competition positive tests collected from Ol' McClintock, according to the case resolution.

Of the samples collected from the Gonzalez trainee at Alburquerque Downs on April 22 last year, the banned bronchodilator Albuterol was detected in the hair sample, and the banned anabolic drug Testosterone was found to be present in the horse's blood sample. Gonzalez's 36 month suspension begins July 3, 2027.

The trainer is currently serving an 18-month suspension for a separate out-of-competition positive test, after a hair sample taken from his trainee Discovery N Sight at Alburquerque Downs in July of last July tested positive for Albuterol.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Dates: 01/27/2026
Licensee: James Dimmett, trainer
Penalty: A written Reprimand; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Caffeine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Woods Hole, who finished sixth at Belterra Park on 10/1/25.

Dates: 01/27/2026
Licensee: Michael Lerman, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Vibing on 12/10/25.

Dates: 01/26/2026
Licensee: Andrew Harris, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Glycopyrrolate–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Constant Conflict on 12/15/25.

Dates: 01/26/2026
Licensee: Ryan Kenney, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on January 27, 2026; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Smooching, who won at Turf Paradise on 12/8/25.

Dates: 01/26/2026
Licensee: Antonio Arriaga, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500. Final decision of internal adjudication panel.
Explainer: Violation for the breach of rule 3510(d), “Refusal or failure without compelling justification to comply with any other provision of the Protocol (where such refusal or failure does not constitute an Anti-Doping Rule Violation)” for an event dated 3/18/24.

Dates: 01/21/2026
Licensee: Steve Davis, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Flunixin–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Diamonds R Lucky on 12/2/25.

Dates: 01/21/2026
Licensee: Jose Roberto Gonzalez Jr., trainer
Penalty: Combined 36-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on July 3, 2027; 14-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Horse, beginning on April 22, 2025; a combined fine of $25,000. Admission.
Explainer: Out-of-competition medication violations for the presence of Testosterone and Albuterol–both banned substances–in samples taken from Ol' McClintock on 4/22/25.

Pending ADMC Violations
01/28/2026, Kim A. Puhl, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Riobella on 12/29/25.

01/26/2026, Kevin Eikleberry, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Kanojo on 12/23/25.

01/23/2026, Thomas Waltke, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Greyzer, who won at Tampa Bay on 12/19/25.

01/23/2026, James Begg, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Kentucky Joker on 11/14/25.

01/22/2026, Steven Martin, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Soul Sacrifice, who won at Remington Park on 12/20/25.

01/22/2026, Michael Anthony Ferraro, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Keigs, who won at Finger Lakes on 10/28/25.

Violations of Crop Rule
Los Alamitos
Rigoberto Sevilla–violation date January 26; $300 fine, three-day suspension

Parx Racing
Angel Alciro Castillo–violation date January 22; $250 fine, one-day suspension

avw.php?zoneid=45&cb=67700179&n=af62659d

The post National Weekly Rulings: Jan. 22-28; Trainer Gonzalez Banned Additional 36 Months appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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