Brent Sass to retire from sled dog racing months after sex assault allegations

Brent Sass pinch dogs Slater and Morello successful Nome aft winning nan Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race successful 2022 (Lex Treinen/Alaska Public Media)

Iditarod and Yukon Quest champion canine musher Brent Sass announced Wednesday that he is stepping distant from racing sled dogs.

In February, nan Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race disqualified Sass, its 2022 champion, conscionable days up of nan 1,000-mile race’s 2024 arena amid allegations that he had sexually assaulted aggregate women.

Sass, 44, has denied nan allegations, which were contained successful a Nov. 2 missive to nan Iditarod and different apical sled canine races from Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates Alaska.

Two alleged victims besides told Alaska Public Media, nan Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica, that Sass had forced them to person activity during different consensual intersexual relationships much than a decade earlier.

It wasn’t until 4 months aft nan missive went to nan title boards, successful precocious February, that nan Iditarod announced Sass’s disqualification. The disqualification besides came a week aft nan newsrooms first asked nan Iditarod astir nan allegations.

In identical posts Wednesday connected nan Instagram and Facebook pages for his Wild and Free kennel, Sass announced that he is “stepping away” from competitory canine mushing and from societal media to attraction connected “new adventures.”

“As my life’s travel continues it is bringing change. Big change, 1 that I didn’t spot coming but person to look for illustration I person each different challenges passim my life….head connected and pinch a affirmative attitude,” nan announcement says.

Sass did not instantly respond to an email, Facebook connection aliases matter seeking comment.

Sass is simply a four-time champion of nan Yukon Quest sled canine race, winning successful 2015, 2019, 2020 and 2024.

He won nan 2022 Iditarod aft mushing done a snowstorm to get astatine nan decorativeness statement successful Nome conscionable complete an hr earlier chap Iditarod seasoned Dallas Seavey, who claimed his sixth Iditarod title successful 2024, mounting an all-time record.