Brent Sass of Eureka was claiming he violated Rule 1 of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race , which prohibits cameras and other two - dimensional communication devices with wireless capability . The 35-year - old musher was in fifth place and a quarter of the way through the 979-mile contest when he was pulled off the course . Sass , owner and founder of Wild and Free Mushing , has been racing and training huskies for 12 years .
Brent Sass of Eureka was told he violated Rule 35 of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race , which prohibits cellphones and other two-way communication devices with wireless capability . The 35-year-old musher was running fifth place and a quarter of the way through the 979-mile contest when he was pulled off the course . Sass , owner and founder of Wild and Free Mushing , has been racing and training huskies for 12 years .