When I read the first story, before Seavey's name was released, I doubted it and said so here on ADN reader feedback. Tramadol is a very mild pain reliever, though drug prohibition hysteria has had it elevated to a schedule IV drug. It works a little better when combined with acetaminophen. The combination is marketed as Ultracet. It can have adverse side effects that no musher would risk, that would seriously impair the dog's performance. The Iditarod Committee has screwed the pooch, once again.