Officials: Bucks County Woman Arrested After Rigging Horse Races At Parx Casino
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- A Bucks County woman has been charged with rigging horse races at a Pennsylvania casino by giving the horses performance-enhancing drugs.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Bruce Castor announced the arrest of 25-year-old Marian Vega following an investigation.
According to the criminal complaint, Vega illegally administered the drug Clenbuterol to several thoroughbred horses while she was a horse groomer at Parx Casino and Racing in Bensalem.
The FDA approved the therapeutic use of Clenbuterol, or "Clen" prescribed to horses with respiratory disease but investigators say the drug takes on a performance-enhancing effect when used outside of the permissible guidelines.
Officials say, testing on multiple horses confirmed the presence of Clenbuterol outside the permissible guidelines.
The complaint also alleges a bottle containing the drug was found in Vega's possession during the investigation.
"People expect that horse racing not be fixed," said Castor. "The evidence here shakes people's confidence that equal horses compete on an 'even running field' in these events."
Vega was released from custody after meeting bail. Her preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday, Aug. 31.