Glatt Runner Tests Positive for Metformin, Gabapentin

The Mark Glatt runner Vanzzy (Verrazano) tested positive for Metformin and Gabapentin after finishing second in a Dec. 6, 2024 $16,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos, according to a ruling posted on the Horse Racing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) website.

This is the first Metformin case HIWU has had since July 2024.

Glatt has denied any wrongdoing, but his lawyer, Drew Mollica, said that an internal investigation had identified a barn employee who is taking both medications.

“We have not yet been served the charges, but this is another classic case of Metformin in the environment triggering a positive for alleged picograms of a substance in a horse,” said Mollica, when asked about the case. “One–Mark Glatt denies any wrongdoing, and is willing to litigate this in the unlikely event that we cannot come to a resolution with HIWU,” he said. “Two–our internal investigation has identified a potential source. And three–the entire industry knows that this is environmental contamination, at the same time, the testing procedure in this matter was so fatally flawed that there should be no charges at all.”

The potential consequences of a positive test for the banned substances include a two-year suspension and a fine of up to $25,000, but while some cases have been resolved with no sanctions to the trainer, none were due to the potential for contamination.

“As part of our notification process, Mr. Glatt and his counsel were notified of this potential violation in January, and the B sample confirmation was sent to him yesterday, followed by the official charge today,” said HIWU's Alexa Ravit Thursday evening. “As with all pending Metformin cases, Mr. Glatt's case will be stayed following HISA's announcement in June that the RMTC Scientific Advisory Committee is conducting a review of Metformin, which is ongoing. Following that review, HISA will determine whether any rule changes regarding Metformin should be submitted to the FTC. In the current rules, a positive test for Metformin is subject to a period of Ineligibility of two years, a fine of up to $25,000, and a disqualification of race results, but those penalties can be adjusted by establishing No Fault or No Significant Fault.”

Ravit continued: “There have been four resolved Metformin cases that have resulted in no sanctions for the trainer. This was due to either 1) insufficient volume for B Sample analysis, 2) withdrawal in response to laboratory harmonization, or 3) the death of the Responsible Person. None of the resolved cases have resulted in no sanctions due to 'the potential for contamination.'”

“Metformin is one of the most prescribed medications in America,” said Mollica, “and the alleged source in this case was also prescribed Gabapentin. It is not atypical for Metformin recipients to also be prescribed Gabapentin; in fact, they are prescribed jointly on a regular basis. This is another example of the realities of life crossing into the microscopic testing of horse racing.”