Iditarod Committee responds to Dallas Seavey's independent investigation

After reviewing the

, the Iditarod Trail Committee says it disagrees with only one scientific finding: The time window in which the drug was likely administered.

According to the independent toxicology report prepared for Seavey, Tramadol – a banned pain killer – was administered to four of Seavey’s dogs

Seavey finished in second place in the 2017 Iditarod. Thus, the report concludes that an unknown third party administered the drugs, not Seavey.

Meanwhile, the ITC stands by its own lab report, which claims that Tramadol could have been administered to the four dogs

Seavey finished the 2017 race. But because this report could not determine

the drugs were administered to the dogs, the ITC says Seavey was neither sanctioned nor disciplined.

Additionally, the ITC says it was to "reiterate that it has not at any time asserted that Dallas Seavey was responsible for the positive test results reported to it earlier this year."

This controversy began in late-October 2017, when the ITC announced that Seavey was the musher whose dog team tested positive for Tramadol, after completing the Iditarod in 2017.

"At the end of the day, all involved parties and reports unfortunately recognize and agree that four dogs on Dallas Seavey’s dog team tested positive for Tramadol at the conclusion of the race," said Stu Nelson, ITC Chief Veterinarian. "While we will continue to avoid speculation on the circumstances surrounding the positive drug tests, we welcome bringing this issue to a conclusion and wish Dallas the best of luck at the upcoming Finnmarksløpet and look forward to welcoming him back to a future of Iditarod racing."