Group 1 winning trainer Tim Martin has been suspended for 4½ months after positive swab

One of the Group 1 trainer’s winning runners earlier this year was found to have tested positive to a prohibited substance.

Trainer Tim Martin.

Group 1-winning trainer Tim Martin has been slapped with a four-and-a-half month ban after one of his stable’s winning runners tested positive to a prohibited substance on raceday earlier this year.

Stewards were forced to open an inquiry following the Martin-trained Give Me Joy’s victory in a Class 1 Handicap at Wyong on January 6.

A urine sample of Give Me Joy was found to have traces of trendione, trenbolone and epitrenbolone

Trendione and trenbolone can be found in certain batches of veterinary prescription animal remedies containing the progestogen altrenogest, which is used to control the cyclical activity of fillies and mares but is not permitted on raceday.

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An inspection by Racing NSW stewards of Martin’s Goulburn stable on February 2 found two bottles of orally administered Ovumate – one that was empty and the other around three quarters full.

A review of Give Me Joy’s treatment record found that she had received Ovumate on both January 5 and 6, the latter of which she raced and won on.

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Tim Martin in 2003 with his former superstar, Exceed And Excel.

Martin, the former trainer of Group 1 gun Exceed and Excel, told stewards that the Give Me Joy had not received treatment on raceday, and it was merely a clerical error, however, it could not confirmed that this was indeed the case.

Stewards and investigators also found an unlabelled container with tablets that were tested and found to contain acepromazine.

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Martin pleaded guilty to three charges with the most serious breach coming under AR 240, for the discovery of a prohibited substance in a sample taken from horse at race meeting.

He was hit with a suspension that will last until September 5, 2024.

It is Martin’s fourth positive swab offences over 35 years of training.

Martin was also hit with a $750 for the unlabelled container of Acepromazine tablets that had not been prescribed, dispensed or obtained in accordance with the applicable Commonwealth and State Legislation.

A further $750 fine was handed down for failing to keep up to date treatment records.

Originally published as Group 1 winning trainer Tim Martin has been suspended for 4½ months after positive swab