Two more banned

Press, 24 August 1988, Page 51

Two more banned

NZPA-AAP Perth Western Australian Turf Club stewards on Monday banned a third horse trainer for use of methylprednisolone. Trainer, Robert Bell, was disqualified for 12 months over the positive swab returned by the gelding, Rossino, following his win in the Jaxon Construction Welter at Port Hedland on July 16. First victim of the new testing procedures was top trainer, Wally Mitchell, who was banned for giving Depo-Medrol to top sprinter Placid Ark — a penalty reduced to a $20,000 fine on appeal. Last Friday Western Australia trainer, John McGillivray, was also banned for 12 months. While convictions continue in Western Australia, racing authorities in five other states have decided to give trainers a month’s warning to stop treating horses with DepoMedrol.

In a further development and for the first time in Australia, a trot-

ting trainer has been disqualified for administering the anti-inflamma-tory drug. The Western Australian Trotting Association on Monday banned trainer, Lindsay Froyland, for 12 months over the positive swab returned by Mystery Cargo following its win in the British Club Winter Cup at Gloucester Park on July 22. Improved testing by the Chemistry Centre of Western Australia has recently enabled detection of the drug, also known as DepoMedrol, and three horse trainers have already been convicted for its use. Under both trotting and gallops rules, no horse can race with drugs in its body. Chairman of Stewards, Des Jones, said the stewards inquiry also disqualified Mystery Cargo as winner of the event and stood down the horse from racing for 28 days.

A stewards’ spokesman said it was the first trotting disqualification in Australia for use of DepoMedrol.