Hall Of Fame Trainer Graeme Bate Disqualified For 9 Months Over Positive Swab

Greyhound have today advised that Victorian greyhound trainer Graeme Bate has been handed an effective nine month disqualification for returning an elevated Testosterone level in one of his greyhounds.

Following advice from Racing Analytical Services Laboratory, the Stewards of Greyhound Racing Victoria conducted an investigation into the results of a pre race urine sample taken from greyhound ‘Gunda Bale' at the Geelong Greyhound Racing Club meeting held on Thursday, 28 March 2013.

During the investigation, Stewards heard evidence from registered trainer Mr. Graeme Bate, Mr. Joe Briffa (Registered Trainer), Paul Zahra (Racing Analytical Services Laboratory) and Dr. Steven Karamatic (Greyhound Racing Industry Veterinary Officer), Dr. Alastair Smith (Veterinary at Sandown Veterinary Clinic) and Mr. Tony Vandenberg (General Manager of and Governance at the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia).

After considering the evidence, Stewards charged Mr. Bate with a breach of Rule 83(2) and (3) in that he did fail to present the greyhound ‘Gunda Bale' free of any prohibited substance for an event at the Geelong Greyhound Racing Club meeting held on Thursday, 28 March 2013 given that the pre race urine sample taken from the greyhound indicated the presence of the prohibited substance 5β-ANDROSTANE-3α, 17β-DIOL at a mass concentration greater than 10 ng/mL.

Under Rule 47.1 of the Greyhound Racing Victoria Local Rules this constituted a Serious Offence. As a result, on Monday, 14 October 2013 the matter was heard before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board in the first instance under Greyhound Local Racing Rule 47.3 and Sections 83C(b) and 83M(1) of the Racing Act.

Mr. Graeme Bate was represented by Mr. Phillip Boulton SC who was instructed by Mr. Vincent Murphy Solicitor.

Mr. Paul Holdenson QC with Mr. Chris Winneke represented the Greyhound Racing Victoria Stewards Panel instructed by Corrs Chambers Westgarth Solicitors.

Mr. Bate pleaded guilty to the charge.

After hearing all the evidence tendered and having regard to GAR83 (6), the RADB determined that Mr. Bate was guilty as charged and disqualified him for 12 months (with 3 months of this disqualification suspended pending no further breach of GAR83 during this period) effective from midnight Wednesday, 23 October 2013.

Acting under GAR83(4), the RADB also disqualified ‘Gunda Bale' from Event 7 – City of Greater Geelong Mixed 4/5 – at the Geelong Greyhound Racing Club meeting held on Thursday, 28 March 2013 and amended the placings accordingly.

Graeme Bate spoke with Australian Racing Greyhound in the wake of today's decision and was “naturally very disappointed and a bit taken aback” by the sentence. But it was the severity of the nine month disqualification which shocked the leading trainer, “I was expecting something, but I was not expecting that” said a despondent Bate.

Bate intends to appeal the decision with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (). He will be seeking a stay of proceedings from VCAT and GRV Stewards to allow him to continuing training until the VCAT appeal ruling can be decided upon. That VCAT hearing is expected to be heard and finalised within four to six weeks.

In recent years Bate has had what many believe to be a lucky run with , having never been disqualified despite return a positive swab to in 2002, two positive swabs to Procaine in 2009 and 2010, and a positive swab to Diclofenac (an NSAID) in 2011. Those recent positive swabs have cost Bate an SA Derby and a Darwin Cup victory.

Graeme Bate's Recent Positive Swabs

Ironically, Bate was instrumental in a research project started in 2005 by Greyhounds Australasia (GA), Racing Analytical Services Limited (), the Australian Greyhound Veterinary Association (AGVA), and Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) which helped establish the current Testosterone threshold levels in bitches.

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rharris334
rharris334
10 years ago

Globalgallop jeepers

daj4423
daj4423
10 years ago

Globalgallop not sure if I’m surprised, saddened or how to feel about that.

Gavvy
Gavvy
10 years ago

GRV have always handed out slaps on the hand. It will be business as usual for Bate as GRV etc allow them to transfer greyhounds into Grannies name or anyone else connected with the family. Any person with half a brain connected with greyhound racing knows that the big boys of the industry have a competitive edge through illegal means, make no mistake about this. The greyhound racing industry has become a joke, it is a legacy for half a dozen trainers in Victoria. If Wallish does not do something to clean it up then he too should go.

John0
John0
10 years ago

There should be a ruling that all racing greyhounds must be removed from a disqualified persons premises to continue racing. This decision might just be the start of really cleaning up the integrity of the sport

DouglasJarrod
DouglasJarrod
10 years ago

Globalgallop too light he has priors#weakaspiss

KJoske
KJoske
10 years ago

Globalgallop should have got 2 years as he has priors. GRV has kept this quite!

ben_griff14
ben_griff14
10 years ago

rharris334 dodge as

rharris334
rharris334
10 years ago

ben_griff14 yup

Jimmy Heddles
Jimmy Heddles
10 years ago

Got to feel sorry for him its a fine line keeping biches off season and racing the monster created by do-gooders

Donny Clark
Donny Clark
10 years ago

Not far from seeing trainers refusing to train bitches

Ian Rose
Ian Rose
10 years ago

Or not far from trainers thinking twice before pumping drugs into bitches to improve performance.

Callan Ward
Callan Ward
10 years ago

Always better to let your bitches come on season in my opinion.

Peter Smith
Peter Smith
10 years ago

Ian , hard to just let them sit in a kennel on season when your on 50/50 , why they test bitches and not the non chasing stud dogs that only won because they needed enhancing is beyond belief . Its open slather on dogs using hormone as they can’t find a level but we are restricted with bitches . It will get to the point that we will not take bitches to race then where will the breeding industry be .

Kate Round
Kate Round
10 years ago

He should of got longer

Sue Delaney
Sue Delaney
10 years ago

And, how many times has this trainer been up for the same charges. Nine months isn’t long enough!

Donny Clark
Donny Clark
10 years ago

I’m amazed at how many industry participants seem to be blinded by the facts.

AsIseeit
AsIseeit
10 years ago

He’s had more positives than I’ve had hot dinners yet only gets 12 months. The arrogance of the man to then say he was shocked. Here’s a tip G Bate. Play by the rules like most seem to be able to handle and you might not be so shocked.

AaronCross
AaronCross
10 years ago

@Jimmy Heddles Mabye dont smack your poor dogs up with hormones? You feel sorry for a serial drug cheat? I feel sorry for his poor dogs.

AaronCross
AaronCross
10 years ago

@Peter Smith Maybe you too could consider not doping your dogs with hormones? Let them have their natural spell. Have you ever heard of a vulvaplasty? Google it. Its a disturbing operation some bitches have to go through after hormone substance abuse. Not that you would care that far down the line, that would be someone elses problem.

Was a greyhound man
Was a greyhound man
10 years ago

This is a complete joke…..he should of got a life ban. This so called Hall of Famer…disgracefull….he is nothing but a big cheat.
The industry is a complete circus for keeping a self confessed drug dealer in the game.
I was fortunate 2 own 2 top greyhounds but I will not be investing in greyhounds again. Why should I? just to be beaten by a drug infused
G Bate dog?
No way
Go and collect stamps Greame and let the industry grow without your cheating ways…..

noelywillis
noelywillis
10 years ago

@Kate Round the word is should’ve,go back to school

noelywillis
noelywillis
10 years ago

seems to be a lot of jealous people,this man has done for greyhounds what peter brock did for car racing

FrankieMeyer
FrankieMeyer
10 years ago

Same old story its not what u know its  who ya know  lol  its a joke  and it will never change  Sue

FrankieMeyer
FrankieMeyer
10 years ago

Agree

Fry Zee
Fry Zee
10 years ago

At least Victoria takes the sport seriously (finally). Increased governance, increased prize money and an increased focus on provincial track meetings makes GRNSW look rather inadequate.

ban drugs
ban drugs
9 years ago

noelywillis peter brock never used illegal fuels

ban drugs
ban drugs
9 years ago

by doing that creates the problem of having a bitch that on a twice a year season may have limited race time, which then make owning a bitch not viable, therefore owning a dog becomes popular, bitches get put down. ot the level playing field they tried to aim for

ban drugs
ban drugs
9 years ago

Someone or many must be answerable to the racing industry for allowing this cheat to have so many positive tests and got away with it, how and why? I see minor infractions of drugs get small trainers nearly the same suspension usually accidental, but this is blatant systematic cheating with the use of illegal drugs, how many top wins have gone undetected or covered up by someone at grv

Bernie hewitt
Bernie hewitt
9 years ago

noelywillis silly comment.  He has cheated the industry.  I would like to know if his major breeder donates to his cheating cause, those idiotic wheelers.

rharris334
rharris334
10 years ago

Globalgallop jeepers

daj4423
daj4423
10 years ago

Globalgallop not sure if I’m surprised, saddened or how to feel about that.

Gavvy
Gavvy
10 years ago

GRV have always handed out slaps on the hand. It will be business as usual for Bate as GRV etc allow them to transfer greyhounds into Grannies name or anyone else connected with the family. Any person with half a brain connected with greyhound racing knows that the big boys of the industry have a competitive edge through illegal means, make no mistake about this. The greyhound racing industry has become a joke, it is a legacy for half a dozen trainers in Victoria. If Wallish does not do something to clean it up then he too should go.

John0
John0
10 years ago

There should be a ruling that all racing greyhounds must be removed from a disqualified persons premises to continue racing. This decision might just be the start of really cleaning up the integrity of the sport

DouglasJarrod
DouglasJarrod
10 years ago

Globalgallop too light he has priors#weakaspiss

KJoske
KJoske
10 years ago

Globalgallop should have got 2 years as he has priors. GRV has kept this quite!

ben_griff14
ben_griff14
10 years ago

rharris334 dodge as

rharris334
rharris334
10 years ago

ben_griff14 yup

Jimmy Heddles
Jimmy Heddles
10 years ago

Got to feel sorry for him its a fine line keeping biches off season and racing the monster created by do-gooders

Donny Clark
Donny Clark
10 years ago

Not far from seeing trainers refusing to train bitches

Ian Rose
Ian Rose
10 years ago

Or not far from trainers thinking twice before pumping drugs into bitches to improve performance.

Callan Ward
Callan Ward
10 years ago

Always better to let your bitches come on season in my opinion.

Peter Smith
Peter Smith
10 years ago

Ian , hard to just let them sit in a kennel on season when your on 50/50 , why they test bitches and not the non chasing stud dogs that only won because they needed enhancing is beyond belief . Its open slather on dogs using hormone as they can’t find a level but we are restricted with bitches . It will get to the point that we will not take bitches to race then where will the breeding industry be .

Kate Round
Kate Round
10 years ago

He should of got longer

Sue Delaney
Sue Delaney
10 years ago

And, how many times has this trainer been up for the same charges. Nine months isn’t long enough!

Donny Clark
Donny Clark
10 years ago

I’m amazed at how many industry participants seem to be blinded by the facts.

Adrian Fellows
Adrian Fellows
10 years ago

Bate intends to appeal the decision with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). He will be seeking a stay of proceedings from VCAT and GRV Stewards to allow him to continuing training until the VCAT appeal ruling can be decided upon. That VCAT hearing is expected to be heard and finalised within four to six weeks.In recent years Bate has had what many believe to be a lucky run with positive swabs, having never been disqualified despite return a positive swab to Morphine in 2002, two positive swabs to Procaine in 2009 and 2010, and a positive swab to… Read more »

AsIseeit
AsIseeit
10 years ago

He’s had more positives than I’ve had hot dinners yet only gets 12 months. The arrogance of the man to then say he was shocked. Here’s a tip G Bate. Play by the rules like most seem to be able to handle and you might not be so shocked.

AaronCross
AaronCross
10 years ago

@Jimmy Heddles Mabye dont smack your poor dogs up with hormones? You feel sorry for a serial drug cheat? I feel sorry for his poor dogs.

AaronCross
AaronCross
10 years ago

@Peter Smith Maybe you too could consider not doping your dogs with hormones? Let them have their natural spell. Have you ever heard of a vulvaplasty? Google it. Its a disturbing operation some bitches have to go through after hormone substance abuse. Not that you would care that far down the line, that would be someone elses problem.

Was a greyhound man
Was a greyhound man
10 years ago

This is a complete joke…..he should of got a life ban. This so called Hall of Famer…disgracefull….he is nothing but a big cheat.

The industry is a complete circus for keeping a self confessed drug dealer in the game.

I was fortunate 2 own 2 top greyhounds but I will not be investing in greyhounds again. Why should I? just to be beaten by a drug infused

G Bate dog?

No way

Go and collect stamps Greame and let the industry grow without your cheating ways…..