By Ranjan Bhaduri
Anchorage, Mar 10, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Three-time winner and defending champion Lance Mackey who has been candid with his usage of medical marijuana feels that the alcohol & drug test which is to be held for every man running the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is directed at him. Jeff King, who is a four-time winner, was the first one to be spotted at the McGrath point, which is some 400 miles away from Anchorage. John Baker reached second, followed by Mitch Seavey and Sebastian Schenuelle. Lance Mackey reached after seven contestants. Pat Moon had to be admitted to the hospital after a severe crash and some injuries incurred.

The race organizers haven’t uttered a single word about the time or the place where the testing shall be held. Stan Hooley only mentions that none is exempted from the test, and a positive result would mean either disqualification or the offender would be suspended from races for sometime.

Although the race had already banned drugs & alcohol usage since 1984, it seems like the policy has never gained ground with real time implementation. The most glaring example in this case is Lance Mackey himself who is a surviving patient of throat cancer. He is prescribed on Marinol which happens to be a government approved drug with the chief ingredient being medical marijuana. Other mushers have already complained that they believe that it is marijuana which is giving Lance Mackey a head start in the sled race. However, Lance Mackey has concluded declaring that he is ready to go off his medication on account of the drug test to be held.