This decision came after inquiries by UK and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority revealed that the lab did not comply with required standards. Stanley refutes all claims and is contemplating legal measures. The laboratory has now been acquired by Eagle Diagnostics.
University of Kentucky terminates former head of racehorse drug-testing lab
by McKenna Horsley, Kentucky Lantern
September 11, 2025
LEXINGTON — The University of Kentucky has fired a tenured faculty member who formerly oversaw the university’s equine drug-testing lab.
Scott Stanley was removed as the head of UK’s former Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory last year following an investigation that alleged the lab failed to meet standards under his leadership. The investigation was conducted by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, which oversees drug testing of Thoroughbred racehorses.
The UK Board of Trustees approved revoking Stanley’s tenure by voice vote during a Thursday special meeting. Trustees asked questions of Stanley’s attorney, Cristina Keith, and UK lawyer Whitney Stepp-Gay and publicly debated the decision. Stanley had waived his right to a hearing.
“At the University of Kentucky, we are committed to advancing Kentucky through research and service of the highest quality,” said board Chair Britt Brockman in a statement following the meeting. “We must uphold the highest ethical standards and comply fully with university and industry regulations. Any violations of these policies are taken seriously and addressed to maintain the integrity of this work – the work of thousands of people across this institution.”
Keith told the Lantern after the board vote that her client was obviously disappointed with the outcome, but she could not say if Stanley would appeal the decision in court without speaking to him first.
A university press release said that terminating a tenured faculty member is rare, but allowed under Kentucky state law.
UK began the process to revoke Stanley’s tenure last fall after initial findings in an internal audit. One finding included a test that was commissioned by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit was never performed but Stanley had reported the result.
Keith said in the board meeting in response to questions about the testing result that “without additional information, Dr Stanley cannot speak to this specific allegation” and questioned the integrity of the finding. She said there has not been a photograph of the alleged unopened sample.
“In addition to that, all samples are received in more than one vial, so assuming that there was a discovery of one unopened vial in the EACL lab refrigerator, that is not conclusive evidence that no testing had been performed,” she said.
Charges Stanley faced, according to UK’s press release, were:
- Failure to perform duties: Misrepresentation, falsification of test results and fraudulent billing
- Failure to perform duties and/or incompetence: Lack of internal controls (to prevent tampering and manipulation of data) and lack of oversight of EACL operations
- Failure to perform duties and/or incompetence: Conflicts of interest/commitment and improper hiring practices
Frank Shoop, a nonvoting member of the board who is member and past chairman of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, spoke about the importance of accurate and credible drug testing for horse racing. According to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, the thoroughbred industry brings in $115 million in tax revenue for the state annually.
Shoop said a prominent testing facility was at the University of California, Davis.
“A lot of people in this state worked a lot of years to get this to the University of Kentucky,” Shoop said.
Eagle Diagnostics acquired the chemistry lab from UK earlier this year.
On Friday, the day after the board’s decision Stanley’s lawyer, issued a statement denouncing the board’s decision.
The statement said Stanley “strongly rejects” the decision to revoke his tenure and “categorically denies the University’s allegations and disputes the conclusions of both the UK Internal Audit and the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) Report.
“Despite repeated requests, he was never granted access to the underlying evidence, data, or witness notes, only the reports that, he says, ‘confuse speculation with proof.’
“He points to an email obtained through subpoena in connection with his on-going defamation suit against Dr. Cecily Wood, Stanley v. Wood, 24-CI-4027, Fayette Circuit Court, between HISA CEO, Lisa Lazarus, and Nancy Cox, Dean at UK CAFE in which HISA instructed the University that it ‘cannot possibly allow Dr. Stanley to work in any way, shape or form in the horseracing industry,’ a directive made before either the internal audit or the HIWU investigation were complete.
“I have devoted my career to science, integrity, and transparency,” Stanley said in the statement. “Tenure exists to protect due process, yet that principle has been disregarded. I am considering all legal remedies to ensure fairness is upheld,” says the statement from Stanley’s lawyer.
This story has been updated with a statement from from Stanley’s attorney.
Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com.
