Darwin trainer Tom Logan has been fined $5000 after his horse Blueant returned an abnormal blood sample following a race at Fannie Bay in September.
Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory stewards imposed the fine following an inquiry late last month.
The hearing followed analysis of blood samples collected from Blueant prior to a race at Fannie Bay during the Darwin Turf Club’s meeting on September 2 where he finished fifth.
The certificates of analysis for the pre-race blood sample detected the presence of fluticasone propionate.
Evidence was considered from Logan, ARFL general manager John Keledjian, Racing & Wagering Western Australia industry veterinarian Dr Judith Meed, and Jamin Farebrother from the Howard Springs Veterinary Clinic at the Darwin Turf Club on November 23.
Fluticasone propionate is a prohibited substance within Part 2 (Division 1) on List B in the Australian Rules of Racing.
Fluticasone propionate is an anti-inflammatory agent with topical and inhaled applications commonly used in the treatment of asthma in steroid-dependent individuals.
The drug is used in racehorses to treat Inflammatory Airway Disease.
Subsequently, Blueant, a seven-year-old gelding, was disqualified from the race on September 2 and the result was amended accordingly with commensurate implications to stake money and TROBIS bonuses.
In determining a $4000 penalty for Logan, stewards took into account the following:
- The seriousness of the offence
- The nature of the prohibited List B substance being a therapeutic and that the product containing the substance was prescribed by a veterinarian
- The low detected level and veterinary evidence indicating that in all likelihood an administration had occurred within the prescribed withholding period recommended
- The administrations of this product were not recorded in the stable treatment records
- Logan’s guilty plea, co-operation and personal circumstances
- His disciplinary record over three years while licensed as a trainer
- His previous penalty precedents relating to prohibited List B substances
Logan also pleaded guilty for failing to record that a prescription medication was administered by way of metered dose inhaler to Blueant in the lead-up to the race on September 2.
For this breach, he was fined an additional $1000.
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