Hugh Neff

Hugh Neff Denied Entry to 2023 Iditarod

Veteran Musher Faces Disqualification in Major Sled Dog Race

2022 Dog Asphyxiation Incident Leads to Ban

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Veteran musher Hugh Neff has been denied entry to the 2023 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the Iditarod Trail Committee announced Friday.

Neff, who has won the Quest twice, was banned from the race and the Iditarod after one of his dogs asphyxiated during the 2022 Iditarod.

In a Facebook post, Neff expressed disappointment over the decision and said that he believed he had taken the necessary precautions to prevent such an incident.

The Iditarod Trail Committee's decision is final and binding, according to the Iditarod handbook.

Neff is a colorful and divisive figure in the world of dog mushing. He has been praised for his skills as a musher, but he has also faced criticism for his handling of dogs and his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

The Iditarod is one of the most prestigious and challenging sled dog races in the world. The 2023 race will begin on March 2nd from Willow, Alaska, and will end in Nome, Alaska.