Lisa Giannelli takes stand in doping trial

According to Lisa Giannelli, who took the stand in her own defense yesterday, she did so in order to “To tell my story.” This all occurred in the ongoing trial of US District Court of New York vs Lisa Giannelli Wednesday.

Ms. Giannelli, along with 18 other individuals, was indicted in 2020 in a racehorse doping scandal that has ensnared both thoroughbred and harness racing individuals.

According to the original indictment, prosecutors for the US District Court of New York allege that Ms. Giannelli was a “PED distributor” that sold, shipped, and delivered PED’s to various individuals that were manufactured by Dr. Seth Fishman.

Dr. Fishman has been found guilty of two (2) counts of “Drug Adulteration and Misbranding Conspiracy” and faces up to 20 years in prison.  The government also alleges that Ms. Giannelli and others, “routinely defrauded and misled government agencies” as part of the Drug Adulteration and Misbranding Conspiracy.

Ms. Giannelli, while being questioned by her attorney stated for the record that when she was Dr. Fishman’s employee, she never intended to defraud any racing commission.  She also testified that she never agreed to engage in fraud with Dr. Fishman, nor did she benefit financially.

Ms. Giannelli went on to say that she believed she was able to sell any product Dr. Fishman created because he was a licensed veterinarian.  Continuing her testimony, she stated that she did not help Dr. Fishman manufacture his products, nor did she participate in designing labels for any product.  Ms. Gianelli said that her role as an employee was limited and that “I was just to take orders.” I was not to give medical advice or offer a medical opinion or act as a veterinarian.”

As to the drugs that were found in her home during the FBI raid in 2020, she said that these were “items of Dr. Fishman that clients called in for as needed.”  When questioned about why she sold drugs without labels on the bottles, she responded by saying “That was a decision by my boss.  It was what it was.”

When cross-examination started Ms. Mortazavi, the prosecutor, began by asking Ms. Giannelli about her previous jobs as a groom and trainer of harness racehorses before she was an employee of Dr. Fishman’s.  Ms. Giannelli held these jobs over 20 years ago, but while testifying on this matter, Ms. Giannelli also confirmed that her license was suspended because a horse, while under her care, tested positive for TCO2.

It is widely acknowledged in the racehorse industry that administering baking soda (a bicarbonate), if given in large enough quantities will produce a positive TCO2. Ms. Mortazavi also questioned Ms. Giannelli whether she knew the difference between prescription and non-prescription drugs.  Ms. Giannelli responded, “My employer did.” And then added that she now knows the differences between the two.  When asked “But you didn’t know at the time?”, Ms. Giannelli answered that “I know only know what Dr. Fishman told me.”

Closing arguments are scheduled to begin today Thursday, May 5, 2022.

By Monica Bencal, for Harnesslink