You greatly underestimate the risks of sedating a dangerous animal, both to human and to the animal. Ask a vet or wildlife officer. It’s not like the movies. Also if they are checking for certain brain diseases, there is simply no way to test an animal and keep it alive.
I get the irritation but this is 100% normal practice for any news outlet. They leave off “allegedly” and if the defendant is found not guilty they can sue for defamation.