Irish Sports
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15 Jan 14
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ICHARD FORRISTAL – 15 JANUARY 2014
TURF CLUB chief executive Denis Egan has reiterated that there is "no evidence steroids are being used" in Irish racing circles, though he also conceded that the regulatory body has not gained access to a list of licenced trainers that was found during Customs' October raid on a Carlow premises.
At a sitting of Carlow District Court in October, John Hughes, a retired Department of Agriculture veterinary inspector, pleaded guilty to five counts of possession of banned animal substances, including the anabolic steroid Nitrotain.
The case was subsequently dismissed "on its merits" after Hughes made a donation of €10,000 to Kilkenny Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and agreed to pay court costs of €3,000 as well as witness costs of €100.
SWOOP
During the swoop on Hughes' premises by a Customs special investigation unit and gardai in February 2012, a list of trainers' names and contact details was seized by investigators, but the Turf Club's attempts to ascertain the potentially inflammatory inventory have so far been unsuccessful.
"Obviously, we would like to get that list of names, but we haven't yet," Egan admitted yesterday.
"We are not at the stage where we can't get it. It is important, but there are procedures to be gone through to obtain information and we're in the process of going through those at the moment."
Following the raid, which came on the back of high-profile instances of anabolic steroid use that had rocked the racing scene in England, the Turf Club increased its random stable inspections. Some of the biggest jumps yards in the country were subject to wholesale testing unannounced.
"All the additional tests we did in training came back negative," Egan revealed. "We carried out 189 tests over a period of one week in October and they were all negative. Obviously, we are pleased all the samples have been negative, but it's just a picture in time.
"What I've always said is we have no evidence that steroids are being used, but when you see instances like where there were banned substances found in the Carlow case, you obviously have to be concerned."
Nitrotain, which is designed to improve horses' muscle mass, strength and stamina, was one of the substances at the centre of the Mahmood Al Zarooni find in Newmarket last year.
Hughes' haul reportedly consisted of a quantity sufficient to administer up to 1,500 doses. The drug has an unusually short withdrawal period of 48 hours, meaning that a horse will test negative for it just two days after administration.
TURF CLUB chief executive Denis Egan has reiterated that there is "no evidence steroids are being used" in Irish racing circles, though he also conceded that the regulatory body has not gained access to a list of licenced trainers that was found during Customs' October raid on a Carlow premises.
At a sitting of Carlow District Court in October, John Hughes, a retired Department of Agriculture veterinary inspector, pleaded guilty to five counts of possession of banned animal substances, including the anabolic steroid Nitrotain.
The case was subsequently dismissed "on its merits" after Hughes made a donation of €10,000 to Kilkenny Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and agreed to pay court costs of €3,000 as well as witness costs of €100.
SWOOP
During the swoop on Hughes' premises by a Customs special investigation unit and gardai in February 2012, a list of trainers' names and contact details was seized by investigators, but the Turf Club's attempts to ascertain the potentially inflammatory inventory have so far been unsuccessful.
"Obviously, we would like to get that list of names, but we haven't yet," Egan admitted yesterday.
"We are not at the stage where we can't get it. It is important, but there are procedures to be gone through to obtain information and we're in the process of going through those at the moment."
Following the raid, which came on the back of high-profile instances of anabolic steroid use that had rocked the racing scene in England, the Turf Club increased its random stable inspections. Some of the biggest jumps yards in the country were subject to wholesale testing unannounced.
"All the additional tests we did in training came back negative," Egan revealed. "We carried out 189 tests over a period of one week in October and they were all negative. Obviously, we are pleased all the samples have been negative, but it's just a picture in time.
"What I've always said is we have no evidence that steroids are being used, but when you see instances like where there were banned substances found in the Carlow case, you obviously have to be concerned."
Nitrotain, which is designed to improve horses' muscle mass, strength and stamina, was one of the substances at the centre of the Mahmood Al Zarooni find in Newmarket last year.
Hughes' haul reportedly consisted of a quantity sufficient to administer up to 1,500 doses. The drug has an unusually short withdrawal period of 48 hours, meaning that a horse will test negative for it just two days after administration.
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Interesting ....
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Whatever happened to yer mans brother trainer Pat Hughes wasn't his case adjourned?
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The Turf Club have been very slow to react. The list of trainers was found in Feb 2012 and armed with that information they carry out searches in October 2013. Why haven't they held an inquiry and summonsed Hughes. This doesn't sit well with me. In the public interest they should be in the High Court demanding that list of trainers. Shocking carry on.
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"no evidence steroids are being used"
That would be because the evidence was not released? |
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This will never be acted upon because it would ruin Irish racing. Safe to say that there are a huge amount at it. Testing is fec k all good because its out of system within 2 days.
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More than likely a fuss about nothing......Turf club have no powers over either the vet involved or Customs so have to go though the proper channels in order to receive the list.....which
will enable them to question the trainers involved....which will be a waste of time imo. |
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Their should be a fuss but I agree JR that nothing will happen just like the Newmarket invisible nine the BHA had the cop out they wanted, ie they couldn't act unless they had a positive.
The Turf Club will probably do something similar and withhold the trainers involved names from the public, just what the doctor ordered for all concerned. |
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What else can they do tbf?
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Well I think it would be in the best interest of the betting public if these trainers who were receiving illicit drugs were named and shamed don't you think JR if and when the Turf Club get the relative information?.
Granted maybe some of them might be charged by a civilian court for possession of an illicit substance then they will have nowhere to hide. |
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They have their names on a piece of paper. Is that your evidence??? You cant go and accuse them with that or you would be sued!
How would they get charge for possession? |
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God I'm starting to believe people will just disagree with me for the pure sake of it.
Possession of an illegal drug is a criminal defence the last I heard?. |
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Is the piece of paper with whoever's name on it the only evidence? There will never be an investigation of any sort into it. Would ruin racing!
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No trainer has been caught with an illegal drug Silver........all the customs have is a list of names that was sized from a vet.
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Bigwill I'm talking about custom and excise possibly bringing charges not the Turd Club.
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For appearing on a list!
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Ones name being on a list on a piece of paper is very different from possession of drugs. However I do agree and hope that the testing regime is strengthened.
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The word "possibly" was mentioned, I'm not sure if customs and excise have carried out investigations into those on the list and neither are any of you.
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Customs cannot prosecute anybody for appearing on a list either............they would have to have some sort of evidence......they're funny like that.
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Isn't that what I'm saying, maybe they are in the middle of an ongoing investigation I don't know, do you JR?.
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I'd imagine two years is long enough for them to come with something......At least we can agree that the Turf club are blameless in this instance.
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Oh more than likely nothing will become of it as the dogs would've been barking once they pounced on Hughes to get rid of the stash, that they were on the list at all is a huge sign of guilt but not enough for criminal charges to be brought unfortunately.
Yes in this case the Turf Club are blameless but I'm sure they're quite happy about how things panned out. |
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Most of us have lists of horses some have lists of trainers etc - we even have a list of people to send Christmas cards to but it doesnt mean they are all on drugs
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Well I'm pretty sure that list of trainers in that Carlow premises was not the households xmas card list.
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Again Silvergraser makes a valid point and gets slated , The question is ...WHY WAS ANY TRAINER ON THAT LIST ......
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Oh thats a hard hitting question.....bet the authorities haven't thought of that one........you in the legal profession Workrider?
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Why would you feel the need to be defensive in these muddied waters JR?.
Did Hughes import these illicit drugs for his own personal use or did he have a lucrative little racket going on iyo?. |
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I would have serious reservations about the dismissal of this case on its merits.Given the qualifications of the defendant,his occupation and the quantity of the drug involved I think there is no way he should have been able to buy his way out of a conviction.
As for the list of trainers I would have thought if the Turf Club really wanted to they could find out who was on it.While being on a list is not indictable of itself it surely should result in shall we say greater scrutiny!! |
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Racing's credibility on line over lack of doping transparency
So long as detail on testing is in short supply, rumours will rumble on – but do authorities have the desire to seriously tackle the issue? RACHEL WYSE – 07 DECEMBER 2013 Are those who know contentment in life those wishing for tomorrow? I suspect not. They are busy enjoying today. When tomorrow comes they will enjoy that too. Looking forward, wishing time away, is a tragedy. A sorry indictment of poor decisions. Everyone is faced with choices, we don't just suddenly find ourselves in positions we long to see pass. The option is always there to do right or wrong. When people try to rationalise their longing for new days only then do they realise this fact. The feeling of knowing you've cheated yourself. The sense of waste, of not being true to yourself. Knowing you can't turn back and start again. It gnaws at you. Living with such feelings is the greatest punishment of all. There is no escape route. Those feelings must be carried forever. Sentences can be served and boxes ticked. Tangible punishments are manageable. The day will come when such hardships are just a memory. That's the easy bit. Gerard Butler may not agree but perspective might change everything. Right now he probably can't see past his five-year sentence. On Wednesday he was the latest racehorse trainer found guilty of administering illegal substances to horses in his care and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) showed little mercy. Butler was seemingly inconsolable after the verdict. On December 4, 2018 Butler will be entitled to hold a licence once again. Already I suspect he is a man wishing time away. This latest high-profile case involving a UK trainer follows just seven months after Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni was disqualified after Sheikh Mohammed-owned horses in his care were found to have been doped. Questions are being asked as to how widespread such behaviour is. The initial details of Butler's wrong-doings first came to light around the time Al Zarooni was sentenced. The manner in which the Godolphin case was dealt and the severity of punishment frightened many people. ILLEGAL Butler, it would appear, was one of them. As information emerged to confirm BHA vets had found traces of illegal steroids in a number of his horses, Butler went public declaring Sungate, an anabolic steroid, was widely used in Newmarket. Butler claimed he knew of numerous trainers using the substance and, alarmingly, they did so with the knowledge and advice of registered veterinary practitioners. His claims are sensational. The substance of Butler's opinion has never been vindicated. The BHA confirmed no disciplinary action would be taken. If illegal steroids were used on a widespread basis in Newmarket, any traces were long gone by the time the authorities followed up Butler's public uttering's. The cynics believe Butler's motive in going public were all about self-preservation. He knew some of his horses had tested positive and claimed his actions were replicated by numerous fellow trainers. It's difficult to contradict those who doubt Butler's motives. You can't credibly argue his public confession was for the good of the sport. The moment one of his horses tested positive, such an avenue was no longer accessible to him. So why, if he was using a substance he claims was abused on a widespread basis, did he receive a ban of five years? In his public statement, Butler chose to omit serious details of his misdemeanors. A BHA investigation has revealed the specifics of his wrongdoings and they surpass the use of Sungate. It transpired that Butler sourced and used an unlicensed stanozolol-based product called Rexogin on four of his horses . In animals, the drug is used to improve muscle growth, red blood cell production and increase bone density. He administered the drug himself, injecting it into fetlocks and knees, all the time using junior members of staff to hold the horses. Butler paid for the substance privately and no record of the cost passed through the business as a deductible expense. In the BHA's view: "Butler's actions were an appalling breach of his duty to look after the interests of the horses in his care and amounted to conduct that was seriously prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of horseracing." And so he must first face five years outside of his profession and then face the rest of his life living with the hurt and pain inflicted on staff and family. For the horseracing industry, the good news is another corrupt individual within the game has been exposed. There is however a bigger picture. Since the Al Zarooni revelations, public speculation around the purity of the racing industry has intensified. The authorities are facing a double-edged sword as the more cases they discover, the greater people's scepticism. We've seen it in other sports. But if the industry as a whole is to be a credible entity, then the authorities must show they possess the will to address such issues and bring transparency to an aspect of the sport currently shrouded in darkness. In the short term, the effects of such an approach may be damaging but for the long-term viability it is a necessity. When I see the millions spent on top broodmares at Newmarket this past week – it may be naivety but I want to believe the sport is one run on its merits. Surely investors wouldn't part with such vast amounts of capital buying stock to compete in an industry where potential returns are determined by a trainer's proficiency with banned substances? Then again, the equine industry is a multi-million pound industry where potential rewards for a champion horse are life-changing and, as long as money has existed, so has corruption. A recent case involving retired vet John Hughes raised serious questions about the purity of the industry in Ireland. Hughes, a brother of licenced trainer Pat Hughes, pleaded guilty to possession of unauthorised animal remedies Detomovet, Thiazine, Omoguard Paste and Pentosan Gold And Halo in a Carlow Court last October. The Turf Club's chief executive insisted the regulatory body has no evidence of steroid abuse in Ireland: "We will be keeping a close eye on this but, what I would say is that we carry out extensive testing in-training and there is no evidence of steroids being used here. That doesn't mean there are or aren't steroids being used, but that we have no evidence," said Turf Club chief Denis Egan. So either those using such substances are one step ahead of regulators or the testing procedures in place aren't robust enough to detect prohibited substances. For a sport deriving so much funding from the public purse, transparency and detail on testing procedures and results is in short supply. While this remains so, the rumours and suspicions will rumble on. These are dark days for a great sport and an industry entwined with Irish life. Whether we will ever see a new dawn is debatable. Have those entrusted with enforcing regulations the will to address the issue and bring transparency? Are such expectations reasonable? Is there vested interests yielding too much power? Maybe this is an issue easier to ignore. Easier to live with in a land of pretence. Gerard Butler knew such a place. We know now where it got him. |
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Legal vultures are preventing Turf Club doing their job.
Money has already being got in this case. The Department Of Agriculture were monitoring a parcel addressed to a former employee of theirs,the parcel was followed and to their amazement it landed in a racing stable,they thought this magic stuff was for cattle. Major suspicion on a friendly match and a wide margin point to point winner that has failed to sell and has become addicted to falling. |
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Wildman,could not sell,would not pass the VET
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He was spun as well,a lucky escape for the buyer.
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Makes one wonder though , that same horse , has not been the same horse for awhile if you get my drift ..Maybe greed got the better of them...
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