Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit's failed drug test confirmed

A second blood test from Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit confirmed the presence of the banned steroid betamethasone, a lawyer for the horse's owner said Wednesday, according to the New York Times.

The second positive test increases the risk that racing officials will overturn Medina Spirit's victory at the Kentucky Derby.

The attorney for the horse's owner, Amr Zedan, said that officials are allowing another lab to analyze a third sample from Medina Spirit to determine whether there are chemicals that would support the claim from trainer Bob Baffert that the banned substance came from an ointment and not an injection.

If the third test confirms Baffert's claims, the attorney could use that to argue against Medina Spirit being disqualified from the Kentucky Derby. 

If Medina Spirit is disqualified, Zedan will forfeit more than the $1.8 million first-place prize he received. 

In an email, a spokeswoman for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission declined to comment on the results of the second test. 

"The KHRC is not going to be providing comment or updates on the status of this ongoing investigation," Sherelle Roberts said. "We will provide information when the entire matter is complete."