Every time I have had my dogs on Tramadol, that drug sedates them.  It is not a drug that any of us would choose to give our dogs during a race even if it were not against race rules.  There are other better pain medications to give a dog during a race if you were to do that.  So whether there is some truth in what the veterinarians are saying in this article, Tramadol still would not be a drug of choice we would choose for our dogs during any competitive race. And from what I understand Mitch Seavey is saying, it would make no sense to drug your dogs hours before a scheduled drug test.  I think someone who has no comprehension about dog sled racing and who wants to end the Iditarod drugged Dallas' dogs. And I wish he would race - because I would hate to see whoever did this win this thing.  If he and the other mushers boycott this race - in my mind - is like giving in when someone is being held hostage -- it just encourages more acts of sabotage.  That could end the Iditarod.