Racing Victoria (RV) officials confirmed that Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) had found a banned substance in a race urine sample taken from the racehorse Gentian Blue trained by Maxim Van Lierde.
Lignocaine is a type of anesthetic that is frequently administered to horses for localised pain relief and numbing purposes but is not allowed to be used on race day according to the Australian Rules of Racing.
The report relates to a pre-race urine sample before Gentian Blue finished in fourth place at the Evergreen Turf Handicap BM78 at the Caulfield Racecourse on August 31, 2024.
Evergreen Turf Handicap BM78 Race Replay – Gentian Blue (4th)
Van Lierde was informed by the RV stewards about this issue on October 18, 2024, and has now been made aware of the confirmed results and the investigation that is currently in progress.
The Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) also reported that it had detected 3-Hydroxylignocaine and Norlignocaine within the reserve portion of the urine sample.
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