The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) announced earlier this month that it has suspended 11 racing trainers who were recently involved in medication violations in Louisiana and New Mexico. The Louisiana Racing Commission and the Zia Park Board of Directors recently suspended the aforementioned trainers after horses in their care tested positive for Class I drugs, according to a statement on the AQHA website.

According to the statement, in addition to the suspensions, horses owned or trained by suspended individuals "shall be ineligible to receive AQHA racing points or AQHA honors/awards including AQHA year-end Champion or AQHA Regional High Point recognition," as of Oct. 19. Also effective Oct. 19, 2012, horses owned or trained by suspended individuals will not be permitted to enter any AQHA Challenge regional, bonus, or maiden races, the statement said.

According to AQHA.com, trainers suspended, along with their penalties, include:

• Alvin Smith, Jr.; 10-year suspension beginning Oct. 29; fined $20,000
• John Soileau; 10-year suspension beginning Oct. 29; fined $20,000
• Lamont Charles; 3-year suspension beginning Oct. 29; fined $2,500
• Alonzo Loya; 5-year suspension beginning Oct. 29; fined $10,000
• Kyi Lormand; 3-year suspension beginning July 4, 2012; fined $2,500
• Heath Taylor; 5-year suspension beginning Oct. 29; fined $10,000
• Anthony Agilar; 3-year suspension beginning Oct. 29; fined $5,000
• Gonzalo Gonzales; 3-year suspension beginning Oct. 29; fined $2,500
• John Henry Bassett; 10-year suspension beginning Oct. 12, 2012; fined $10,000
• Jeffrey Heath Reed; 21-year suspension beginning Oct. 19, 2012; fined $23,000
• Carlos Sedillo; 10-year suspension beginning Oct. 20, 2012; fined $10,000 

"The vast majority of our members love and enjoy spending time with their horses," Don Treadway, AQHA executive vice president, said in the statement on the organization’s website. "They want the drug issue cleaned up, and AQHA is dedicated to using the resources we have available to make sure this happens. The statements made over the last several months by tracks such as Los Alamitos, Ruidoso Downs, (and) Remington Park, and actions taken by racing jurisdictions such as California, New Mexico, and Louisiana show that progress is being made. We applaud them and others for their efforts in addressing these issues, and encourage all racing jurisdictions to reciprocate and recognize rulings from other jurisdictions