Ray Cooper Disqualified For Four Months For Heptaminol Positive At Goulburn Greyhounds
Greyhound Racing NSW Stewards on Wednesday 30 November inquired into analyst's reports that the urine sample taken from Ashe's Gift after that greyhound won Race 14 at the Goulburn meeting on Saturday 3 September 2011, had been analysed and confirmed to contain the prohibited substance heptaminol.
Evidence was taken from trainer Mr Raymond Cooper, with written evidence tendered from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory, and from the Chem Centre WA.
Evidence given established that prior to the race on the day in question, Mr Cooper had, in all likelihood, administered Kynoselen, containing heptaminol, together with an amino lite injection, to Ashe's Gift, a practice he alleged to have adopted with some greyhounds in attempting to prevent tying up in the animal.
Mr Cooper subsequently pleaded guilty to a charge under GAR 83 (2) (a) in that he presented Ashe's Gift for the race in question other than free of prohibited substances in that the urine sample taken from the greyhound after the race was found to contain the prohibited substance heptaminol.
Mr Cooper was subsequently disqualified for a period of four months and, in addition, fined $1000. In considering penalty Stewards took into account Mr Cooper's record in relation to breaches of prohibited substance rules which showed two previous offences in 1993 and 1998 for substances of a stimulant nature, his personal circumstances, the nature of the substance involved and other penalties in relation to such reports.
Stewards also considered that a measure of negligence is involved with race day administration and the subsequent adverse effects on greyhound racing's image caused by such reports. Some measure of mitigation was applied in consideration of Mr Cooper's guilty plea, evidence of little kennel support for the greyhound and the co-operation he displayed with the inquiry and upon being notified of the irregularity in the urine sample.
Ashe's Gift was disqualified from the race in question under GAR 83 (4) and placings amended accordingly.