Cawbourne Bolt Inquiry Finally Decided – Dickinson Appeals
It is one of the longest running positive swab inquiries in recent history, but GRNSW Stewards today confirmed they have concluded their inquiry in to the Cawbounre Bolt positive swab from November 2009.
Greyhound Racing NSW Stewards on Wednesday 29th June 2011 concluded deliberations on penalty following the inquiries into analyst's reports that the urine samples taken from Cawbourne Bolt after that greyhound won race nine at the Wentworth Park meeting on Monday 7 November 2009, had been analysed and confirmed to contain the prohibited substance benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
Following four days of inquiry on 30 March 2010, 24 April 2010, 22 June 2010 and 16 August 2010, trainer Mr Stuart Dickinson had been found guilty of a charge under GAR 83 (2) (a) in that he had presented Cawbourne Bolt to compete on the night in question and that the urine sample had been found to contain the prohibited substance.
Mr Dickinson was represented at all stages of the inquiry by Murphy's Lawyers and significant volumes of evidence were considered.
Evidence was taken during the course of the inquiries from Mr Dickinson, trainer Mr Anthony Lord, kennel hands Robert Wyld and Patrick Kenny, stewards Mr Clint Bentley and Mr Scott Matthews, Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory Science Manager Dr Andrew McKinney and Dr John Lewis, with written evidence presented from the ARFL, Dr John Vine of RASL, Victoria, together with several written submissions from Mr Dickinson's representatives.
Stewards rejected Mr Dickinson's assertions of inadvertent administration of the substance, based on the evidence given throughout the inquiry.
Mr Dickinson was disqualified for a period of 18 months, to commence today, 1 July 2011 and to expire on 31 December 2012.
In determining penalty Stewards gave consideration to the particular circumstances of this case, Mr Dickinson's personal circumstances, previous penalties imposed in relation to this rule and in particular this substance and Mr Dickinson's previously unblemished record in relation to this breach of the rules.
Stewards considered, however, that Mr Dickinson had displayed a rather careless approach to scrutiny of employees in his kennel which demonstrated a lack of proper approach to security measures.
Cawbourne Bolt was disqualified from the race in question and placings amended accordingly.
Mr Dickinson has appealed the conviction and penalty and has been granted a stay of proceedings. An appeal will be set by the Racing Appeals Tribunal.