The following statement was sent to media by Cristina Keith, Dr. Scott Stanley's attorney, Oct. 4:
Dr. Scott Stanley, former director of the University of Kentucky's Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (UK-EACL), is speaking out in response to the media's coverage of the allegations made in the recent Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) report. The damage indicted on Dr. Stanley's personal and professional reputation is irreparable and has been fueled by media narratives that unquestioningly parrot HIWU's claims.
The HIWU report levies serious accusations against UK-EACL, including “persistent delays,” “unprofessional behavior,” and “falsifying results.” Yet, these claims are made without evidence. The report offers no concrete documentation–no email records, timelines, or verified communications–leaving the allegations vague and unsupported. Nevertheless, the press has accepted these accusations without scrutiny or fact-checking, painting an incomplete and misleading picture.
UK-EACL has consistently adhered to the highest professional standards, recognized, and accredited by both the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC). The suggestion that UK-EACL engaged in fraudulent activity is baseless. The report's insinuations do not reflect the rigorous testing protocols in place or the long-standing integrity of UK- EACL under Dr. Stanley's leadership.
It is crucial to understand the operational context in which UK-EACL was functioning. Dr. Stanley and his team repeatedly communicated the logistical challenges arising from the transition to HIWU's regulatory oversight, including the implementation of an updated Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), an increased workload from HIWU's requests for Florida sample analysis, and ongoing resource limitations. These concerns were ignored by HIWU, which remained fixated on rigid deadlines rather than addressing the real, systemic issues involved in shifting regulatory frameworks. HIWU's failure to standardize procedures across labs compounded these problems, creating inconsistencies in testing methods and results that were system issues, not specific to UK-EACL.
Dr. Stanley categorically denies the allegation the he falsified results. UK-EACL follows a standard two-stage testing process, where initial screenings are followed by confirmatory tests only when necessary. The claim that Dr. Stanley would falsify results is an unfounded attack on his reputation, a reputation built on decades of dedicated service to the industry.
Further, the accusation of improper invoicing is equally unsubstantiated. UK-EACL's billing processes have always been transparent and rigorously documented, with every sample tested according to established protocols. If there were discrepancies, they stemmed from HIWU's inconsistent guidance and lack of standardized operating procedures, not from any wrongdoing on the part of UK-EACL or its leadership.
Dr. Stanley remains unwavering in his commitment to integrity and excellence in equine testing, values that have defined both his career and UK-EACL's service to the industry. He will continue to stand for these principles in the face of HIWU's baseless and harmful accusations.
–Click here for a link to the TDN story, which includes HIWU's Sept. 17 statement concerning the Stanley investigation.
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