Horse racing-Trainer Servis sentenced to four years in prison for racehorse doping

Jason Servis, former trainer of thoroughbred Maximum Security, has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a years-long racehorse doping scheme, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said on Wednesday.

Servis, 65, pleaded guilty last year after prosecutors said he doped nearly all of the horses under his care including Maximum Security, who appeared to have won the 2019 Kentucky Derby before being disqualified for interference.

"Today's sentence sends a clear signal to those in the racehorse industry that no one is above the law," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said.

"Endangering the welfare of animals for profit will not be tolerated. Illegally doping racehorses is a serious crime that will be met with a serious sentence."

Servis' attorney Rita Glavin said she was "disappointed" with the sentence, saying it was longer than what had been recommended by the government.

"Our view remains that Mr. Servis' criminal conduct was less egregious than other trainers who received lesser sentences," Glavin said in a statement to Reuters.

"Mr. Servis is deeply remorseful, and he remains eternally grateful to the many owners, colleagues, and friends who, along with his family, provided him with unwavering support throughout this ordeal," she added.

Servis ordered hundreds of bottles of SGF-1000, an illegal performance enhancing drug (PED) that he believed to be undetectable by regular drug screenings, prosecutors said.

He also regularly administered the drug Clenbuterol, which he obtained from co-defendant Jorge Navarro, who pleaded guilty to administering PEDs to horses in 2021.

In addition to the prison term, the Jupiter, Florida resident was sentenced to one year of supervised release and