Hall Of Fame Trainer Graeme Bate Disqualified For 9 Months Over Positive Swab
Greyhound Racing Victoria have today advised that Victorian Hall Of Fame 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 Surgeon at Sandown Veterinary Clinic) and Mr. Tony Vandenberg (General Manager of Compliance and Governance at the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia).
After considering the evidence, Stewards charged Mr. Bate with a breach of Greyhounds Australasia 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 (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 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 (RASL), the Australian Greyhound Veterinary Association (AGVA), and Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) which helped establish the current Testosterone threshold levels in bitches.
Globalgallop jeepers
Globalgallop not sure if I’m surprised, saddened or how to feel about that.
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.
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
Globalgallop too light he has priors#weakaspiss
Globalgallop should have got 2 years as he has priors. GRV has kept this quite!
rharris334 dodge as
ben_griff14 yup
Got to feel sorry for him its a fine line keeping biches off season and racing the monster created by do-gooders
Not far from seeing trainers refusing to train bitches
Or not far from trainers thinking twice before pumping drugs into bitches to improve performance.
Always better to let your bitches come on season in my opinion.
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 .
He should of got longer
And, how many times has this trainer been up for the same charges. Nine months isn’t long enough!
I’m amazed at how many industry participants seem to be blinded by the facts.
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.
@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.
@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.
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…..
@Kate Round the word is should’ve,go back to school
seems to be a lot of jealous people,this man has done for greyhounds what peter brock did for car racing
Same old story its not what u know its who ya know lol its a joke and it will never change Sue
Agree
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.
noelywillis peter brock never used illegal fuels
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
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
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.
Globalgallop jeepers
Globalgallop not sure if I’m surprised, saddened or how to feel about that.
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.
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
Globalgallop too light he has priors#weakaspiss
Globalgallop should have got 2 years as he has priors. GRV has kept this quite!
rharris334 dodge as
ben_griff14 yup
Got to feel sorry for him its a fine line keeping biches off season and racing the monster created by do-gooders
Not far from seeing trainers refusing to train bitches
Or not far from trainers thinking twice before pumping drugs into bitches to improve performance.
Always better to let your bitches come on season in my opinion.
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 .
He should of got longer
And, how many times has this trainer been up for the same charges. Nine months isn’t long enough!
I’m amazed at how many industry participants seem to be blinded by the facts.
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 »
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.
@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.
@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.
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…..