Eight Belles officials oppose doping claim

BUFFALO, N.Y., June 22 (UPI) -- The owner of the late Kentucky Derby race horse Eight Belles says sabotage led to an allegation of performance-enhancing drug use on another horse.

Breeder Jim Squires contends the alleged positive drug test of his horse Stones River came just as he and trainer Larry Jones are being targeted in the industry for their attempts to clamp down on steroid use, The New York Times reported Sunday.

"It reeks of a deliberate effort to impugn our credibility on the subject of drugs and damage the reputation of a highly successful trainer who has been unfairly and mistakenly blamed by a few critics outside the industry for the death of Eight Belles," Squires said in a statement.

Eight Belles was put down after finishing second in the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby, leading to harsh criticism of Jones.

The positive test of Stones River came after a June 8 race at Delaware Park in Buffalo, N.Y., the Times said. The animal was said to have tested positive for clenbuterol, a drug that promotes muscle growth and fat burning in horses.