Mitch Shirra banned

Press, 28 November 1988, Page 13

Mitch Shirra banned

NZPA London New Zealand’s leading speedway rider, Mitch Shirra, has been suspended for two years for drug taking. A lawyer for the 29-year-old Aucklander said he would appeal against the ban, which was imposed by a Federation of International Motorcyclists tribunal in London. Shirra refused to comment on the ban, which is much less severe than was widely expected from people within the sport. Many followers had predicted that Shirra would be banned for life but the tribunal is believed to have taken into consideration the fact that Shirra had no other occupation outside the sport. The suspension of Shirra’s international licence bars him from all speedway for two years. However, Shirra is unlikely to be allowed to ride in Britain again. The British Speedway Control manager, Mr Dick Bracher, made it clear before the hearing that any rider convicted of drug-taking would be banned from racing in Britain for life. “We stand by what we have always said — there is no place in British speedway for anyone who takes any form of drugs,” he said. “That is our policy and there is no reason to waver from that.”

The British Speedway Board is expected to impose a life ban when it meets next week. Shirra’s suspension follows a routine drugs test taken after the world pairs final in which he finished fourth, at Bradford in July. Analysis of a sample of urine revealed traces of cannabis. Shirra has been New Zealand’s top speedway rider since the former world champion, Ivan Mauger, retired in the early 1980 s. He came to Britain as a 16-year-old, joining Coventry, where he very quickly proved his skill, helping the club win two British league championships. Two years ago Shirra moved to Reading but spent last season on loan to Swindon. Shirra reached five world championship finals and experts believed that he could have won the world title but for a broken thigh two years ago, which put him out of the sport for six months. Shirra is the first speedway rider in Britain to be found guilty of drugtaking. However, the Speedway Board expects to learn next week the result of a second urine test taken from an English rider at the British League Riders’ Championship last month. A first test proved a positive result.