Jason Magri supports class action to change cobalt rules

Jason Magri
Top Sydney trainer Jason Magri is one of many in the greyhound racing industry who believe the process for cobalt testing needs to be changed. (Photo: GRV)

Top Sydney trainer Jason Magri has thrown his support behind a class action building against because “people are losing their homes” due to the current cobalt laws in place.

Magri stressed he has never had a problem with the NSW body, the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission ().

He added the current welfare processes in place have cleaned up the industry, but he wants to see changes to the current testing procedures for the now-controversial chemical element.

Having Magri offer his potential support to class action Ray Pitstock is building among the greyhound racing industry across Australia is a massive coup for the veteran owner-breeder.

Central Coast resident Pitstock will receive no financial reward for his efforts.

He is simply doing this to ensure the long-term future of a sport which he loves, and has been involved in for many years.

Magri has offered his support because he is saddened at the amount of people who have had their livelihoods turned upside down due to lengthy cobalt-related suspensions.

“You can get two years for contamination for cobalt – people can lose their houses over it because they can't work for two years,” he told Australian Racing Greyhound.

“I haven't worked outside of dogs for 20 years. I wouldn't know what to do outside of dogs.

“They (the authorities) have got to have a good look at it – with the way things are it's got to change.”

At present, if greyhound conditioners register over 100 nanograms per millilitre of cobalt in tests at Australian dog-racing venues, they could face lengthy suspensions.

There is a widespread view among the greyhound racing industry that conditioners are powerless against cobalt entering the digestive system of their dogs.

That is because it is a natural chemical which can be found in the water, food and dirt which their animals are exposed to.

A prominent recent case involved Rockhampton trainer , who said in July he had been losing sleep over the 12-month suspension – currently on a stay of proceedings – given to him by the Queensland Racing and Integrity Commission.

Cobalt was found in two of his dogs – Lines and Rockstar Lincoln – in October last year.

Suli maintains that both dogs presented with cobalt in their systems because it was in the packaged food he gave them, named Winning Edge.

READ: Suli ‘dumbfounded' by cobalt testing rules for greyhounds

There is no suggestion of bad practices from Winning Edge, nor from any regulatory body in the way it conducts its cobalt testing on participants.

This publication has also mentioned the details behind long-term cobalt suspensions handed out to Tom Tzouvelis and , both not commenting on the record.

This is why Pitstock wants to make a stand – he believes too many innocent trainers are having their dogs test positive to cobalt without their knowledge under the current presentation enforced across the country.

“The only way of getting this changed is if participants take a class action against Greyhounds Australasia,” he said.

“They know well they cannot go to court because the levels they've got are and a restriction of trade throughout the industry.

“There are people who have been in the game their whole lives who are walking away from it.

“I spoke to a lot of leading trainers in Victoria and NSW, and they're all for doing this.

“(Top Sydney trainer) Andy Lord said that he wants to be a part of it.”

There is a general feeling among trainers across the country that the state governing bodies are not doing enough to challenge the current drug regulations which Greyhounds Australasia is enforcing.

They also feel that there is not enough discretion being carried out when a dog might test over 100 nanograms per millilitre for cobalt the first time it presents for a swab.

If a dog presents under the 100 limit on the second test, the trainer still receives a breach notice.

“It is a Greyhounds Australasia rule, but there are also (separate) state rules,” Magri said.

“They (GA) can make it a state rule if they wanted to, as well.

“It's like contamination (minuscule amounts of recreational drugs found on dogs at public venues without trainers knowing). They can change it, but they don't.

“It should change. In this day and age, it's people's livelihoods.”

Magri agrees with many trainers across the industry – and prominent Sydney veterinarian Dr – that cobalt is not a performance-enhancing drug.

Major has previously given his thoughts to Australian Racing Greyhound on why the current laws on cobalt need to be addressed.

“I don't think it (cobalt) enhances their performances,” Magri said.

“They (state governing bodies and GA) have got to have a look at it.

“People who have been outed say it's through the water and through the ground.

“If the level has to be higher, it has to happen. They know what level it has to be.

“They've got enough data now from previous records to say how high it's got to be.”

Pitstock will lobby for the current cobalt limit to be 200, up from 100 nanograms per millilitre.

“It should be at least 200 instead of 100, because people are losing their livelihoods,” he said.

“With all the recent rain we've had, cobalt can wash up in the soil. It's everywhere.

“I'm taking on Greyhounds Australasia because the (state) authorities are saying they are the ones setting the levels.

“Talk to anyone at the track and they're all worried sick about this cobalt.”

Pitstock has also noticed a general decline in mental health of , which in turn has affected the overall competitive culture on race nights.

He believes race nights aren't as buoyant as they used to be.

“The reason I want to do it (class action) is because there are a number of people who have been coming up positive, but they're innocent,” he said.

“Their whole hobby and business is being ruined by unrealistic levels. That's what it's getting down to.

“And it shouldn't be going against their health.

“I'm not going to get a financial return from this, and that's not what I'm after.

“I just want a fair playing field for the participants.

“At the moment, they're operating under a broken system.”

In July, GWIC defended its zero-tolerance policy on drugs found in NSW greyhounds.

“The penalties issued for matters are in line with other jurisdictions and precedent cases dealt with by the previous controlling body,” a spokesperson said.

“As indicated at (the June 30) Select Committee hearing, the Commission, in consultation with key industry stakeholders, has developed a penalty guideline which is published on its website.

“The penalties issued are consistent with the published guidelines and with decisions from the independent Racing Appeals Tribunal.”

More greyhound racing news

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments