The board of directors of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Friday unanimously voted to suspend Ramy Brooks of Healy for two years and place him on probation for another three.
Action came after an appearance by Brooks before the board followed by about three hours of private deliberation. Brooks made no public comments afterwards, but his attorney said he contested claims he'd beaten, kicked and hit dogs with a sled pole in the village of Golovin during this year's race.
Brooks had earlier admitted to spanking his dogs with trail-marking lathe after they stopped along the trail in that village. He was subsequently disqualified from the 2007 race.
The board met Friday to consider further sanctions in the light of accusations that arose later that the musher did far more than spank the dogs.
The board received a 21-page report from Anchorage attorney Bob Stewart that detailed interviews with six Golovin residents who witnessed what happened. Reports of witness were consistent that Brooks kicked his dogs.
One of them, Maude Paniptchuk, "saw Ramy try to kick a dog or dogs in the middle of the team," according to the report.
Robert Moses, another witness quoted in the report, said that after hearing dogs crying he "turned around and saw Brooks kicking his leaders. ... Some of the dogs were lying on their side."
Another Golovin resident, David Amuktoolik Jr., also said Brooks kicked his dogs.
Brooks appeared for about an hour before the board. While he later declined to speak with reporters, his wife, Cathy, did so.
Near tears at times, she defended her husband, saying, "He's been very honest and upfront from the get go.
"He loves his family. It breaks his heart to see them hurt."
After Brooks left the board meeting, his attorney, Thomas Wang, said his client was hoping to remain in dog mushing and had no plans to sue the Iditarod. "We're not remotely thinking about a lawsuit," he said.
