Gebauer, of Lincoln, Mont., was mushing a team of young dogs belonging to race leader Doug Swingley. Gebauer finished 43rd in last year's Iditarod.
Rodman died at 3:50 p.m. Sunday less than a mile from Anvik, at the end of a 25-mile trip from Shageluk, according to race officials. Anvik is the first checkpoint on the Yukon River, 489 miles from Nome.
Race marshal Mark Nordman flew from Unalakleet to Anvik and talked to Gebauer.
"I have found no signs which should prohibit Jeremy from continuing his race," he said in a press release.
A necropsy will be conducted to try and pinpoint the cause of death, Nordman said.
Earlier in the race, Gebauer described how the dog, the oldest in his team, came to be named after professional basketball star Dennis Rodman.
"He's 3, but he's got the maturity of a 1-year-old," Gebauer said at the time.
Anchorage Daily News
Anchorage, Alaska
Wednesday
March 17, 1999
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