(Fairbanks, Ak.) 2022 Iditarod champion Brent Sass has been disqualified from this year’s race.
According to a one sentence release issued late last night (Thurs), the Iditarod Trail Committee Board convened a special meeting yesterday (Thurs) and voted unanimously to disqualify Sass from competing in the 2024 race.
It says the decision is pursuant to Rule 53 which states QUOTE: “All Iditarod mushers will be held to a high standard of personal and professional conduct.”
An Alaska court records search for Sass shows 3 long closed non-criminal cases.
Sass is the second musher this week to be disqualified from the Iditarod.
The board issued a brief statement Monday announcing the disqualification of 2023 rookie of the year Eddie Burke Junior, also citing the conduct rule.
Burke was facing assault charges related to a 2022 domestic violence incident, but court records show they were dropped by the prosecution yesterday (Thurs), and the Iditarod announced today (Fri) that it had reinstated Burke.
A message to 2024 Iditarod mushers prior to this week’s disqualification actions said the ITC board had been informed about QUOTE: “a number of accusations being made within our community concerning violence and abuse against women.” UNQUOTE
It did not name any mushers.
Sass did not respond to a request for comment today (Fri), but in a Facebook post, said QUOTE: “The anonymous accusations that have been made against me are completely false.”
He also shared a statement he says he sent to the Iditarod board. It says the accusations have been QUOTE: “fabricated to try and ruin my reputation and end my career” UNQUOTE, and that he intends to fight them.
In regard to his disqualification, Sass says QUOTE: “You are giving the accusers exactly what they are hoping for and in the end this hurts the actual victims of sexual abuse and the sport of mushing.” ###