Calif.'s top racing vet is charged with violating state regulations

Dr. Jeff Blea, who took over on July 1 as the California Horse Racing Board's equine medical director, was slapped with a 27-page "accusation" by the state's Veterinary Medicine Board on Dec. 17. It alleges that Blea violated multiple state regulations prior to joining the CHRB. 

According to the accusation filed by the VMB, an investigation was launched after an anonymous complaint was filed in February 2021. The tipster alleged that Blea and other veterinarians had "prescribed and administered medications, including Thyroxine, to equine patients without an examination or medical necessity."

Thyroxine is used as a thyroid hormone supplement and is a highly controversial medication in horse racing. Studies, including one done by the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018, showed thyroxine is detrimental to performance and can cause cardiac arrhythmias in racehorses.

In October 2020, the CHRB took steps to curb the use of thyroxine after a staff report and analysis found it was being prescribed extensively. 

Blea declined comment when reached by Horse Racing Nation on Thursday. He referred all questions to George Wallace, an attorney based in Pasadena, Calif. 

The accusation said the VMB requested and received medical records from Blea and that those records revealed additional violations of the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act. 

The Los Angeles Times first reported the accusation against Blea. 

Eight causes for discipline against Blea were outlined in the accusation:

• Negligence in prescribing, dispensing and administering drugs without first performing an examination;
• Dispensing dangerous drugs without medical necessity;
• Failure to establish veterinarian-client patient relationship;
• Recordkeeping violations;
• Misbranded drugs;
• Possession or use of prohibited drugs;
• Failure to provide required drug consultation;
• Failure to comply with required standards for administering general anesthesia.

A hearing into the accusation will be held by the VMB. The board will decide whether to revoke or suspend Blea's veterinary license; whether to order Blea to pay "the reasonable costs of the investigation and enforcement of this case; and whether to assess a fine against Blea "not in excess of $5,000." 

You can view the full accusation against Blea by the California Veterinary Medicine Board here under 'Accusations Filed.'