More NQ trainers fined for positive swabs
Another two north Queensland trainers have been fined and had their horses disqualified after they returned positive swabs to a prohibited substance.
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Another two north Queensland trainers have been fined and had their horses disqualified after they returned positive swabs to a prohibited substance.
The most recent new positive tests are on top of the four others over the last few months for local horse trainers.
On Tuesday afternoon, QRIC released fresh details around Tablelands trainer Sharlee D’avila and Townsville’s Jeffrey Caught.
One of D’avila’s horses was found to have the prohibited substance dexamethasone in its system on race day, while Caught faced three charges for the same substance.
The pair were both fined for their actions and had their winning horses disqualified.
“The specifics of the charge are that Sharlee D’Avila, as the trainer of Narda Shar, brought that horse to the Innisfail Turf Club on 19 October 2019 for the purpose of participating in a race, and a post-race urine sample taken after the gelding competed in the Benchmark 60 Handicap 1500m revealed the prohibited substance, dexamethasone,” the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission said in a statement.
“Stewards issued a fine of $2000. Narda Shar was disqualified from winning the Benchmark 60 Handicap 1500m.”
QRIC stewards concluded an inquiry into a report from the analyst that the prohibited substance dexamethasone was detected in urine samples taken from Given Time, Imanui and Pure Hawk, all trained by Caught, at the Townsville Turf Club last year on June 27, August 24 and October 1, respectively.
The stewards issued a fine of $3000 for each charge, a total of $9000 for Caught.
All three horses were disqualified from winning their respective races.
Earlier this year, both Roy Chillemi and Alex Malliff pleaded guilty and were fined $2000 after their thoroughbreds tested positive to dexamethasone.
Intense Focus (trained by the Tolga-based Chillemi) and Ruler (for Malliff, who trains his horses at Mareeba) were disqualified.
Malliff will look to appeal the fine and he believes Chillemi will as well.
Earlier this month, leading Queensland country trainer John Manzelmann was fined $6000 after two of his horses returned positive swabs to an anti-inflammatory steroid.
Manzelmann’s horse, Zoffany Rocket, won at Rockhampton on August 23 which was by Canford Tree, which won at the same track on August 28.
Swabs taken from both horses showed traces of the prohibited substance dexamethasone in their urine.
Manzelman had five previous offences for prohibited substances before these incidents.
Manzelmann was fined $3000 for each charge and Zoffany Rocket and Canford Tree were disqualified.
Mackay trainer Jade Doolan, who was previously Cairns-based, was fined $2000 after her horse, Captain’s Way, returned a positive test to dexamethasone when winning in Cairns on September 14, and the horse was disqualified.
North Queensland has seen a massive increase in positive tests for dexamethasone over the last year.
Drugs in racing
POSITIVES OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS
Cairns1
Eagle Farm1
Innisfail1
Rockhampton3
Sunshine Coast Turf Club1
Toowoomba1
Townsville5
Yeppoon1
WHAT IS DEXAMETHASONE AND HOW IS IT USED?
Dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory that is allowed to be administered to horses and is commonly used to aid in recovery from a race or track gallop. However, it cannot be in a horse’s system on race day.
It usually takes three days to clear the horse’s system.
Originally published as More NQ trainers fined for positive swabs