One Month Disqualification For Beta Blocker Positive Swab In Victoria

Following advice from Racing Analytical Services Laboratory, the of Greyhound conducted an investigation into the results of a post-race urine sample taken from greyhound Sam Harper at the Greyhound Racing Club meeting held on Saturday, 31 August 2013.

During the investigation, Stewards received evidence from registered trainer Mr. Peter Terry, Mr. David Batty (Racing Analytical Services Laboratory) and Dr. Steven Karamatic (Greyhound Racing Industry Veterinary Officer).

After considering the evidence, Stewards charged Mr. Terry with a breach of 83(2) and (3) in that he did fail to present the greyhound Sam Harper free of any prohibited substance for an event at the Traralgon Greyhound Racing Club meeting held on Saturday, 31 August 2013 given that the post-race urine sample taken from the greyhound indicated the presence of the prohibited substance Sotalol.

Sotalol is Beta Blocker, more commonly used as an anti-arryhtmic drug in humans. Sotalol is from the same class of drugs as Timolol, the famed drug of choice used by “fence jumpers” and race fixers throughout the 80′s and 90′s.

The drug Timolol, only rose to wide spread public awareness as a “stopper” when in Janury 1990, the AJC laboratories detected the Beta-Blocker in three beaten favourites competing at Sydney racetracks over the Christmas-New Year period 1989-1990. That was the first recorded detection of a Beta-Blocker in racing anywhere in the world.

Under Rule 47.1 of the Greyhound Racing Victoria Local Rules this constituted a Serious Offence. As a result, on Tuesday, 3 December 2013 this 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. Peter Terry represented himself.

Mr. (GRV Chief ) with the assistance of Christine Gent represented the Stewards .

Mr. Terry pleaded guilty to the charge.

After hearing all the evidence tendered the determined that Mr. Terry was guilty as charged and disqualified him for 2 months (with 1 month of this disqualification wholly suspended for 12 months pending no further breaches of GAR83 during this 12 month period), effective from midnight , 6 December 2013.

Under GAR83(4), Sam Harper is disqualified from Event 1 – Lion Quality Products 513 Maiden Final – at the Traralgon Greyhound Racing Club meeting held on Saturday, 31 August 2013 and the placings amended accordingly.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
2 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mark Graham
Mark Graham
10 years ago

1 month for a stopper? that’s like giving a bank robber a week for robbing a bank. the lunatics are definitely running the asylum!!

Mark Graham
Mark Graham
10 years ago

1 month for a stopper? that’s like giving a bank robber a week for robbing a bank. the lunatics are definitely running the asylum!!