Los Alamitos: Farias has training license suspended for two years by CHRB

The California Horse Racing Board has revoked the license of Quarter Horse trainer Adan Farias for two years and fined him $25,000 after six of his horses tested positive at Los Alamitos last fall for the banned medication zilpaterol.

Zilpaterol, listed as a class 1 violation, is designed to increase muscle mass in livestock. The medication has properties that resemble anabolic steroids. The six horses that tested positive combined to earn $173,900.

In a stipulated agreement with Farias, the racing board suspended Farias an additional six months for a clenbuterol positive in 2011. The six-month suspension and a $10,000 fine were stayed provided that Farias not have any medication violations for drugs in classes 1, 2, or 3 in a one-year period should he reapply for a license and resume training.

The penalties were decided by the racing board on July 19.

Farias has not trained since last fall when the positives for zilpaterol occurred. His stable was disbanded in November, with the runners moved to other stables.

In June, Farias, 32, was arrested by the FBI for having an alleged role in a money laundering case involving the Los Zetas drug cartel from Mexico. The FBI announced in a 25-page indictment in June that the drug cartel allegedly purchased Quarter Horses in the United States.

The indictment states that Farias met with a brother of a cartel leader “and others to discuss the laundering of proceeds via the Quarter Horse industry.”