Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) officials Monday stripped late thoroughbred Medina Spirit of its 2021 Kentucky Derby victory and suspended its Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert for 90 days and fined him $7,500.

The nearly year-long drama concludes after a recent hearing before a three-member panel of KHRC stewards, which ended with the ruling that Medina Spirit—who died in December at Santa Anita Park (Calif.)—is DQ’d after a positive test for a banned corticosteroid (betamethasone) after last year’s Derby.

Betamethasone is commonly used to reduce swelling and pain.

“Medina Spirit is disqualified and all purse money forfeited,” the ruling says. “During his suspension, Mr. Baffert is denied the privileges of all facilities under the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Entry of all horses owned or trained by Mr. Baffert is denied pending transfer to persons acceptable to the stewards.”

Baffert’s suspension begins March 8 and runs through June 5, the ruling states. This year’s Kentucky Derby is set for May 7.

Clark Brewster, Baffert’s attorney, said Monday that he and his client immediately appealed the ruling, and, if it comes down to it, they’d take matters directly to the Kentucky state court system.

“There’s no question the substance in (Medina Spirit) came from a salve,” Brewster said. “That was proven, not only scientifically, but from record keeping. The rule dealing with the use of betamethasone only as an intra-articular injectable was never violated.”

Brewster also called shenanigans on the panel, as one member, Tyler B. Picklesimer, is the current director of racing at Turfway Park, which is owned by Churchill Downs.

“There’s no way there wasn’t bias,” he said. “I just don’t think it has any ring of fairness. I’m very confident that when we get the opportunity to be before neutral decision makers who are generally interested in applying the rules to the facts, we win.”

The official 2021 Kentucky Derby winner is now Mandaloun, and the $1.8 million purse money goes to Mandaloun’s connections—including owner Juddmonte. It’s the third time in the 147-year history of the race that a first-place finisher has been DQ’d.

“We were always hopeful that when people saw the facts and rules, that this matter was over,” said Brewster. “That’s not the case, so we’ll weigh our options as to whether to commence action against Churchill at the same time, or proceed with an appeal and file suit at a later time.”

The 69-year-old Baffert still awaits a ruling from the New York Racing Association that, last May 17, issued a temporary suspension of Baffert which includes Baffert being barred from entering any of his horses in races at Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, and Aqueduct Racetrack.

More fallout from the Kentucky Derby emerges, as winner Medina Spirit is facing disqualification after testing on a second post-race sample confirmed the presence of the steroid betamethasone, lawyers who represent the horse’s owner and trainer Bob Baffert said. One of the attorneys, Clark Brewster, who represents Medina Spirit’s owner, told The New York Times that a laboratory at UC Davis confirmed the presence of betamethasone in the second sample. Attorney Craig Robertson, who represents Baffert, said the second test showed 25 picograms of the steroid, after 21 were found initially.

Even a trace amount of betamethasone is prohibited on race day in Kentucky and is considered a violation. However, Brewster pushed back against the notion that there was any cheating. “I think that will shed the light most prominently on the issue here for us,” he said. “The whole basis for listing betamethasone is because it’s injected into a joint and they want you not to inject the joints too close to the race, so the whole substantive basis is out the window if it’s a salve, and it can be proven scientifically and empirically to be the salve.” He also sent The New York Times a text message that the UC Davis lab didn’t test for other compounds, “which could prove the trace positive came from an inadvertent and materially inconsequential contamination sourced from a topical ointment used to treat Medina Spirit for a skin lesion on his hip.”

Brewster proceeded to tell The New York Times that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has agreed to send Medina Spirit’s original blood and urine samples to an independent laboratory to test for the presence of other compounds. So what does this mean for the results of the Kentucky Derby? Well, a spokeswoman for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation. Sherelle Roberts-Pierre said the commission “values fairness and transparency and will provide information to the media and public at the close of an investigation.” The horse Madaloun appears to be the true winner of the race.

Hall of Fame horse trainer Bob Baffert has been prohibited from registering horses in contests at New York racetracks. New York racing authorities announced this development on Monday. This means that Baffert will not be able to run any horses at courses such as Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. This comes along with an investigation into his horse Medina Spirit, who failed a drug test following a win at the Kentucky Derby. Baffert will not be able to compete with Medina Spirit at the Belmont Stakes.

“In order to maintain a successful thoroughbred racing industry in New York, NYRA must protect the integrity of the sport for our fans, the betting public, and racing participants,” stated David O’Rourke, chief executive of the New York Racing Association. O’Rourke also referenced “failed drug tests in the recent past” by Baffert that caused “the assessment of penalties against him by thoroughbred racing regulators in Kentucky, California, and Arkansas.” Five doping violations have been leveled against Baffert’s horses in these states.

Baffert did not make it official that he would compete with any horses for the third piece of the triple crown, but was apparently looking at entering other contests on the day of the Belmont Stakes. These regulations will prevent Baffert, his racehorses, and his assistants from setting foot on the grounds of any New York racetracks. This is an outcome that will without a doubt be unpleasant news to the owners of the various horses that are trained under Baffert.

Craig Robertson, Baffert’s lawyer, has made it apparent that he is appealing the decision and is in talks with Baffert about possible next steps.

“A final determination regarding the length and terms of Mr. Bafferts suspension will be based on information revealed during the course of the ongoing investigation in Kentucky, such as the post-Kentucky Derby Test results of Medina Spirit,” O’Rourke said in regards to the sanctions on Baffert.

Medina Spirit’s Kentucky Derby win is now in danger after a failed post-race drug test. The failed post-race test resulted in the suspension of Hall of Famer trainer Bob Baffert.

“It is our understanding that Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit’s post-race blood sample indicated a violation of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s equine medication protocols,” Churchill Downs’ official statement said. “Given the seriousness of the alleged offense, Churchill Downs will immediately suspend Bob Baffert, the trainer of Medina Spirit, from entering any horses at Churchill Downs Racetrack.”

“To be clear, if the findings are upheld, Medina Spirit’s results in the Kentucky Derby will be invalidated and Mandaloun will be declared the winner,” the Churchill Downs officials said in a statement.

Baffert denied any wrongdoing in the failed post-race drug test. “I got the biggest gut punch in racing for something that I didn’t do,” Baffert said of the failed drug test. “And it’s disturbing. It’s an injustice to the horse. … I don’t know what’s going on in racing right now, but there’s something not right. I don’t feel embarrassed. I feel like I was wronged. We’re going to do our own investigation. We’re going to be transparent with the racing commission like we’ve always been.”

Baffert told reporters that he would be transparent and will comply with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. “I intend to thoroughly and transparently investigate the matter to determine how this could have happened,” Baffert said in the statement. “We will have the split sample analyzed and DNA testing performed. That will be the first step in the process.”

Medina Spirit was found to have 21 picograms of betamethasone in its system, Baffert said his barn was told. Medina Spirit is Baffert’s fifth horse known to have failed a drug test in just over a year.