WA’s leading lady Linda Britton disqualified for 18 months
The sport has been rocked by an 18-month disqualification handed to champion trainer Linda Britton on Monday.
The WA Hall of Fame trainer was disqualified for 18 months and fined $500 on four charges in relation to one of her greyhounds testing positive to a prohibited substance, and for failing to keep treatment records.
The first two charges came after Zelemar Fever, trained by Britton, was found to have the substance testosterone – evidenced by the presence of 5β – androstane- 3α, 17β – diol at a concentration greater than 10 nanograms per millilitre in urine samples taken after winning the WA Sprint Championship final and placing third in the National Sprint final in August last year.
Britton, who trains her team near Mandurah, was also charged on two counts for failing to keep treatment records.
The first of those charges related to the administration of ethyloestrenol tablets to the greyhound bitches which she was training at the time.
The second was in regards to possessing 1500 ethyloestrenol tablets, a scheduled 4 medicine, in two unlabelled containers which were “not prescribed in compliance with the relevant provisions”.
The champion conditioner pleaded guilty to all four charges when the stewards' inquiry resumed last Thursday.
Britton was disqualified for nine months, effective immediately, on each of charges one and two, totalling 18 months on the sidelines.
In regards to charges three and four, Britton was fined $200 and $300 respectively.
The penalty imposed has come as a massive shock to most greyhound participants, not just from the West but nationwide, as well as Britton herself.
Britton, who was inducted into the WA Racing Industry Hall of Fame in 2012, has won the leading state trainer award each year since its inception in 2003.
She is the daughter of legendary trainer Allan Britton and is also the sister to Jeff and Rob Britton, two of Victoria's leading trainers.
Linda Britton has trained many stars of the track over the years such as Paradise Street, Reggemite, Vulture Street, Western Land, Topline Doovee and Dance Portrait. More recently she has put the polish on outstanding types Zelemar Fever, Star Recall, Uno Reltub and Te Amo, just to name a few.
Dear Shane Palmer and all others making uneducated statements about my Aunt, how about come to the clear realisation that Linda would not be stupid enough to drug her dogs as she is a full time trainer with a large kennel who can quite easily lose everything if found guilty of drugging the dogs and that most trainers who drug their dogs are small trainers and hobby trainers who don’t have much to lose and constantly complain about professional trainers with good dogs winning races. Grow up people, you’ve no idea what happens behind the kennel walls and it is… Read more »
Charlie your Aunt is one of the most amazing people ive ever had the pleasure of knowing. Who cares what people say. She has our total support. Thats all that matters. Its the majority not the minority that counts x
“The WA Hall of Fame trainer was disqualified for 18 months and fined $500 on four charges in relation to one of her greyhounds testing positive to a prohibited substance.”
Now she should be taken off the hall of fame just like Graeme bate was
These cheats should be kicked out of the game for good
I can only judge on what I read and unless I am seeing things this is saying her dog tested positive to prohibited substances
You obviously can read thats nice!
I sincerely apologise if this has been falsely reported
I understand all that but there’s no need to bad mouth people Shane. We are saying Linda has our support. You have your opinion thats fine but make your own post of comments and dont slag on mine!
Jason Lock
Well said mich
Barry Burns
As a former owner I can not speak more highly of Linda. Hang in there mate.
IT’s just amazing how many people love cheats …but then again, we do come from a large number of convicts.
What a disgrace following in bates footsteps. She’s the new lance Armstrong of the greyhound business
As I said to shane write your own comment on the post not on mine!
Pete Sayer
Charlie Britton absolute champ bro
Nicola Hind
“ITSS A BRITTON DOG”
Thanks for tagging me Chris .linda is one of the most kind caring an honest people i have ever had the privellidge of knowing…all that know an love u lindy loo know how much u love ur dogs and the time and effort an dedication u put towards them in unbelievable.u will continue too have all of our support because at the end of the day,one mistake does not deserve the hand uve been delt…ur a legend in our eyes an we all got ur back xxxxx
For all u people that waste your time on here and bag people out how about u put that time in to your dog’s and maybe u will be able to get winners always the same people saying the same shit this Page wasn’t designed to bag people out may be Australian racing greyhound racing should look at taking people off this Page when they start being keyboard warriors.
Charlie Finianos
Mate u talk crap small trainers & hobby trainers r cheats Charlie Britton u r so wrong
It looks like they r running the greyhound industry over there darn well anyway Mr G Bates got 3 years so Linda got off easy And also i think Linda is the best in WA and she will come back and kick butt again
Testosterone is not a banned substance, you are allowed to use it to certain levels, unfortunately you can’t check the levels before you race u have to trust in advice and dosage, Linda and the crew have to be one of the most honest friendly helpful groups of people and its a tragedy for her to be going through this
Heather Milne show dazza
do the crime do the time bad luck Linda u r a great trainer u will b back
Yes being the caring person she is it is a tragedy that she has to be put through this. But she’s not alone she has all of us for support.
Luke Kendall Luke Chapman Tim O Mavric
Ross Uros Vasic
Spot on Michelle.we will all stand by lindas side forever and always…all these people bagging her have no idea of the kind of person she an dnt realise she has lost her entire world for the nxt 18months….if they had the slightest idea of the person linda is and that these greyhounds are her children her life her everything.maybe then they wldnt b so quick to judge….but hey what more can u expect frm small minded people
Hey Alex u should learn to shut your mouth u piss ant
I wouldnt worry Russell,clearly all these ppl bagging linda have never made a mistake in there life an they live in a fantasy land with leprechauns,unicorns and sprinkle fairy dust all day long an also apparently there shit dnt stink either….
So sad for u linda very harshly delt with allways the true professional at your job
Not a Linda bagger at all she’s a very nice lady and a good trainer but unfortunately she broke the rules, and if you do the crime you have to do the time others in this state have been disqualified for similar things so there was no other option
Such a shame to happen to a wonderful person. For all u clowns that wish to bag Linda understand what has happened these pills are not performance enhancing whatsoever they are to control a bitch from coming on heat. Linda u are amazing for greyhounds always were an always will. Come back stronger than ever
Respect all round for WA best female trainer true champion in my eyes all them muppets not from west oz talking shit your all inbreads
What a joke 18 months and $300 should have been a lot heavier more like 2 years as deterrent to others. Kody Charles was fined $10,000 which is nothing to him and let off a sentence because his Daddy is big in Harness racing and Kody drives for him on the odd occasion and the rest of them got suspended. So I ask what has harness racing got to do with Greyhound racing. So RWWA you need to be more consistent when handing down sentences. Linda Britton is a lovely person and a great trainer who cares for her dogs which… Read more »
If you can’t run your dog honestly get out off the racking game it is not fair to the dog ,
Malcolm Burton
I believed testosterone IS a banned substance which is why you have to be careful of dose & days between races, so they don’t test positive. I know a few people that use it in their bitches but have always warned against it due to the health problems it causes – bitches not coming into season ever, mammary cancer…. On the other hand, ethyloeostronol tablets I thought were the only hormone tablets not banned & keeping records of when used seems a bit silly when they have to be given daily. Of course, the vet has to have seen the… Read more »
Heather Campana
I think it’d be much easier if testosterone was a banned substance. People could use a much safer and less risky substance that will not affect a swab. If people would wake up then we wouldn’t have this problem in the first place.
I have brood bitches here at home from Linda and they came to me in excellent condition and I havent had any problem at all with them coming into season. They’re all gorgeous girls with great temperaments.
R u mad Russel
18 months!……ouch! Its a difficult one……they sure are tough in the West. Its so easy to make a mistake and return a positive.I can speak from experience. Cut her some slack…..this is a tough penalty.
Well I know Linda is a wonderful lady and has earnt the respect of all of wa greyhound trainers? All trainers at one point has tried to stop their bitches from coming into season as more than most if one comes into season the whole kennels come into season its a hard game and the laws have changed a hell of a lot and especially over the last few years.if you have a kennel of females I know it can scrub you out for 3 months to bring them back into work. 18months is very harsh but Linda will be… Read more »
Stay strong linda! We have your back xxx
Kelly Short