NSW Greyhound Trainer Receives Two Month Ban For Codeine Positive

Greyhound have just released details of a stewards held over a week ago in to a positive swab in a greyhound from a Coonabarabran greyhoud meeting held in April 2011.

On the 23rd August Stewards conducted an inquiry into analysts' reports that the urine sample taken from the greyhound Sunshine Fury contained the drug .

The positive swab stems from a urine sample take from Sunshine Fury after that greyhound won the 5th Grade Bookmakers Final at the meeting conducted by the Coonabarabran GRC at Coonabarabran on 11th April 2011.

Sunshine Fury has never raced again since winning that 5th grade final back in mid April.

At the inquiry, evidence was taken from Trainer Eric Butler and Dr John Keledjian, General Manager of the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory. Written evidence was entered from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory, Racing Analytical Services (VIC) and ARFL Senior Veterinarian Dr Craig Suann.

Mr Butler was found guilty of a charge under Greyhound Racing Rule 83 (2) (a) in that he presented Sunshine Fury for the race in question not free of a prohibited substance as the urine sample taken from the greyhound was found to contain Codeine.

After considering submissions on penalty Mr Butler was suspended for a period of two (2) months.

In determining the penalty Stewards took into consideration Mr Butler's unblemished record in relation to this Rule over a two year period in the industry, the not guilty plea entered by Mr Butler, the ability of Mr Butler to provide to Stewards a treatment record for his greyhounds, his personal circumstances including that he is a pensioner with limited financial capacity, the nature of the substance involved, Mr Butler's inability to provide Stewards with a plausible explanation as to the finding of the substances, previous penalties given to other persons in relation to the same Rule and substance, and the effects that such have on the image of greyhound racing.

Under Greyhound Racing Rule 83 (5) Sunshine Fury was disqualified from the race in question and the placings amended accordingly.

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