South Australian Greyhound Racing Rocked By Positive Swab
On 28th November 2011 Mr Marcello Calicchio was informed by hand delivered letter that the greyhound Quiksilver Blues had shown the presence of Benzoylecgonine from the urine sample taken at the Southern Greyhound Raceway meeting held at Strathalbyn on Sunday 23rd October 2011, and that you would be advised of the date, time and place of an inquiry.
The reserve portion of the urine sample was tested and the presence of Benzoylecgonine was confirmed.
Mr Calicchio was advised of the analysts results on Wednesday 14th December 2011 by hand delivered mail and is required to attend an inquiry at the offices of Greyhound Racing South Australia Limited, 55 Cardigan Street, Angle Park on Monday 9th January 2012 at 11.00am, together with any witnesses that may assist for an inquiry by the Stewards into the circumstances relating to the obtaining of the positive urine sample.
Benzoylecgonine is the same metabolite that sparked the Cawbourne Bolt steward's inquiry in New South Wales greyhound racing.
The presence of Benzoylecgonine in the urine is a strong indicator of Cocaine use as the metabolite is formed in the liver as the Cocaine is metabolised by the body and subsequently excreted via the urinary system.
This positive swab notification becomes the fifth positive to a metabolite of Cocaine in the last six years. In 2008 a Victorian greyhound trainer received a 2 year disqualification for the same offence; in 2005 Jodie Gilbert received an 18 month disqualification; in 2006 New South Wales greyhound trainer Ray Dixon received a two year disqualification; and more recently Stuart Dickinson had his disqualification reduced to ten months on appeal.