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.
Pleads guilty, she not worried about the punters betting.
Why feel bad 4 her????
Industry is stunned ??? hahahaha yeah right
Everyone in the game have known what has been going on for ages.
She has been a protected species for a very long time.
But her and boyfriend Chris will just carry on as though nothing has happened.
Just like Grahame Bate and Jenny Hunt.
What a crooked industry
she is such a lovely lady/trainer .. and i have fostered heaps of her hounds and they are so friendly and loving .. linda puts her heart and soul into these dogs and it shows .. she has a lot of supporters out their .. and im one of them .. cant wait to see her back xxx
didnt say anything about drugs and if its ok
Hey Dirt Cowboys
You clearly don’t no Linda or Chris by your comments so why don’t you keep your mouth shut until you no what your talking about.
Now who’s dogs are going to kick 8 lengths clear half way in teh running ?
This is one of your mates isn’t it Jordan Mullaney?
What an absolute disgrace.
Wow
westy169 GUILTY!!! CHEAT!!
couldn’t of said it better michelle, wa greyhound racing will suffer now
Shane Palmer Gary Hunter
All I can say linda is the best and will always have my support 100percent so too all the knocker u can all go to hell coz the dogs are linda world… And to all supporters thank u so much coz she needs that at the moment…
“What sort of dog is it josh”
So you want cheaters to go unpunished. She should be gone for longer, 18 months is a joke. Clean up the sport
U are a tosser Shane palmer
Linda you bought me into the game and will have my support for life and my dogs when your ready to go , thanks for every thing your the best and always will be rusty, sad day for wa greyhounds
You openly support cheaters. I’m not sure who the tosser is
Yes thats for sure. But us as owners will stand by her through think or thin. Time will pass & eventually your Star Recall puppies will fly the flag. And hopefully Shots puppies \U0001f60a
So what you’re saying Emily is that you actually want to drug them up more?
Hopefully those puppies aren’t pumped with drugs.
I’m not saying that I’m just saying u knockers probley dnt even no linda and wat she has done for this industry
I have no idea who you are Mr Palmer & frankly I dont care. But one thing I do know the calaper of person you are is someone im glad I dont know.
She’s done alot, helped maintain and enhance the drug culture of the greyhound industry and racing in general.Sure you can support her but to not condemn the actions of her drugging her runners is a disgrace.
Alex Hewson
Why can’t you keep a bitch if season? The word “drug” is very loosely used. Stay strong Linda, come east!
For someone who has done so much for the game and now gets this thrown back at her, it just shows the kind of people that are running the show in WA. You out one of the best trainers in Australia for an honest mistake and not filling out a treatment book that serves no purpose other than for the vets to make money. What an absolute disgrace! And to Linda, hang in there.
Not sure if Linda or Ben Cousins
Kristy Sultana
Those that know the industry, know testosterone is not used as a go fast. Linda is not only a champion trainer but a champion person as well. And could probably do without snapper heads kicking her when she is down.
I’m sure Linda is a great trainer in the same way that Lance Armstrong was a great cyclist.
Don’t stress Em. Who cares what they think.
Hang in the mate. Anyone that knows you knows your love of the dogs, the incredible care you give them and the true stalwart you have been for the industry here. You were our first contact in WA, and have our unconditional support. Enjoy the break mate, you’ve earned it but don’t deserve it.
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 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