Iditarod to Tighten Race Trail Security, Rewrite “Gag Rule”

The Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC) is taking steps to tighten security along the race route in the near future. The move comes after October’s announcement that four dogs on four-time champion Dallas Seavey’s team tested positive for the prohibited painkiller tramadol at the end of the 2017 race.

Attempted Murder, Heroin Cases Continued to January

Frank Johnson, of Nome, and Frank Lee, of Teller, were separately charged with attempted murder or murder in July. Katherine Olson, of Nome, was charged with possession of heroin in August. All three cases will have further hearings in the coming months.

Iditarod Tightens Drug Policy After Dogs Fail Test In 2017

The Iditarod Trail Committee has announced a revision to its canine drug use policy. The change comes after several dogs in a single musher’s team tested positive for a prohibited substance during the 2017 race.