University of Kentucky Fires Former Lab Director

In a Sept. 11 release the University of Kentucky said it had followed through on plans to terminate the employment of Dr. Scott Stanley, the former head of the Equine Analytical Chemistry Lab that provided drug testing for Thoroughbred racing.

The release said it had terminated Stanley's employment following "a serious breach of ethics and policy violations related to misconduct and mismanagement of the institution’s former EACL." After initial findings from a UK internal audit investigation, the university had announced a year ago that it had begun the process to revoke Stanley’s tenure as a faculty member, with the intention of terminating him as a university employee.

The release noted that the termination of a tenured faculty member is rare but is permissible under Kentucky Revised Statutes for reasons of incompetence, neglect of or refusal to perform duties, or for immoral conduct.

A day after the release, Stanley's attorney sent a press release to BloodHorse saying the process under which his tenure was revoked was "deeply flawed and fundamentally unfair.

"I have devoted my career to science, integrity, and transparency," Dr. Stanley said in the release. "Tenure exists to protect due process, yet that principle has been disregarded. I am considering all legal remedies to ensure fairness is upheld."

The school said that among the audit findings is confirmation that a test commissioned by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit—a result that Stanley reported—was never performed. The findings also indicate that some other test results may have been compromised by Stanley’s actions.

Stanley exploited vulnerabilities in technology, governance, and oversight, the audit concludes. Additionally, the investigation found that Stanley potentially engaged in business and employment relationships that constitute conflicts of interests. Specifically, the school says that Stanley purposefully chose not to disclose external work, violating university rules requiring disclosure.

READ: UK Plans to Fire Former Lab Director Stanley

Because of those findings, the university says Stanley was charged with the following violations:

1. Failure to perform duties: misrepresentation, falsification of test results, and fraudulent billing.
2. Failure to perform duties and/or incompetence: Lack of internal controls (to prevent tampering and manipulation of data) and lack of oversight of EACL operations.
3. Failure to perform duties and/or incompetence: Conflicts of interest/commitment and improper hiring practices.

The UK release said the decision by the board of trustees concludes a year-long process in accordance with the university’s administrative regulations. In lieu of a hearing before the board of trustees, the process concluded with a board special session Sept. 11. Board members questioned both Stanley’s attorney and the university’s attorney on the matter and reviewed university and legal filings. They subsequently voted to revoke his tenure and dismiss him from university employment.

“At the University of Kentucky, we are committed to advancing Kentucky through research and service of the highest quality,” said UK board chair Dr. Britt Brockman. “We must uphold the highest ethical standards and comply fully with university and industry regulations. Any violations of these policies are taken seriously and addressed to maintain the integrity of this work—the work of thousands of people across this institution.”

In the Sept. 12 release, Stanley's attorney, Cristina Keith, questioned the findings.

"Dr. Stanley categorically denies the university's allegations and disputes the conclusions of both the UK Internal Audit and the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) Report," the statement reads. "Despite repeated requests, he was never granted access to the underlying evidence, data, or witness notes, only the reports that, he says, 'confuse speculation with proof.' "

The statement said Stanley points to an email obtained through subpoena in connection with his ongoing defamation suit against Dr. Cecily Wood, (Stanley v. Wood, 24-CI-4027, Fayette Circuit Court) between Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority CEO Lisa Lazarus, and Nancy Cox, Dean at UK CAFE in which HISA instructed the University that it "cannot possibly allow Dr. Stanley to work in any way, shape or form in the horse racing industry.

The statement contends this directive was made before either the internal audit or the HIWU investigation were complete.