Iditarod Allegations Under Investigation

The issue of whether musher Ramy Brooks abused his dogs during this year's 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is not over.

Stan Hooley, executive director of the Iditarod Trail Committee, said Tuesday that race officials will continue to look into an allegation that Brooks hit his dogs with his fists, kicked some and struck some with a ski pole in a rant that lasted more than 15 minutes.

For now, however, it is one person's word against another, Hooley said.

That could change if race officials can verify the account reported by Maude Paniptchuk, an elementary school teacher in Golovin.

If her account proves true, Brooks could be permanently banned from the race, Hooley said.

Brooks' wife, Cathy, said her husband obviously disputes the alleged eyewitness account. She says they want people to remember several veterinarians examined the dogs after the allegations of abuse were raised, she said.

"Our dogs are happy and healthy and well taken care of and not abused," she said.

The following statement was posted Tuesday on Brooks' website:

"Brooks regretfully acknowledges this unfortunate incident and accepts the disqualification decision of the judges. Brooks is passionate about his love for his dogs and Native heritage as an Alaskan."

Brooks was disqualified from this year's race after admitting he "spanked" his dogs with a wooden trail marker after two refused to get up and run outside of the Golovin checkpoint, less than 100 miles from the finish in Nome.

A three-member panel of judges responded by voting unanimously to disqualify Brooks from the race.

"We weren't trying to discredit her allegations. They just felt as though they needed additional information," Hooley said.

Brooks, 38, a popular Native musher from Healy, was the 12th musher to cross the finish line in Nome. After completing the race, he admitted to race officials that he had "spanked" his dogs with a wooden trail marker.

Hooley said Brooks was disqualified for one year based on what he admitted doing. Brooks vehemently denied Paniptchuk's account, he said.

Iditarod officials were aware of Paniptchuk's version of events when making the decision to disqualify Brooks for a year, Hooley said.

"Obviously, the witness has a different account of the chain of events and we will be pursuing those as well," he said.