Pharmacy: Mistake made in polo horse supplement
23 minutes ago
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An official at a Florida pharmacy tells The Associated Press that the business incorrectly prepared a supplement for 21 polo horses that died over the weekend before a championship match.
The chief operating officer of Franck's Pharmacy in Ocala, Fla., told the AP in a statement Thursday the business conducted an internal investigation that found "the strength of an ingredient in the medication was incorrect." The statement from Jennifer Beckett does not say what the ingredient was.
The pharmacy says is cooperating with an investigation by state authorities and the Food and Drug Administration.
The horses from the Venezuelan-owned Lechuza polo team began crumpling to the ground shortly before Sunday's match, shocking a crowd of well-heeled spectators.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WELLINGTON, Fla. (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has joined a state probe into the mysterious deaths of 21 polo horses from a Venezuelan-owned team.
The horses died over the weekend as they prepared for a match in Florida. State authorities are investigating.
FDA spokeswoman Siobhan DeLancey says her agency has also now joined the probe.
A member of the Lechuza Caracas team tells the Argentine newspaper La Nacion he suspects a tainted supplement given to the horses caused the deaths. The product, Biodyl, is not approved for use in the U.S.
It was not clear whether the horses were given the brand name product or a generic compound created at a Florida pharmacy.
The International Polo Club Palm Beach will resume the U.S. Open games Thursday.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
