Racehorse tests positive for cocaine as top trainer given suspended 12-month ban
dailyrecord.co.ukA horse's positive test for cocaine has led to a 12-month suspended ban for its handler. Evidence of the Class A drug was discovered in a sample given by Ed Dunlop-trained filly Lucidity following a race at Brighton in July of last year.
It showed up following the 11-8 favourite's effort to finish runner-up in a 10-furlong handicap, reports the Mirror. The British Horseracing Authority's efforts to identify the cause proved futile and eventually blamed it as a "one-off incident of cross contamination."A disciplinary panel found trainer Dunlop, who trained 2015 Ascot Gold Cup winner Trip To Paris, plus top class fillies Ouija Board and Snow Fairy, was not to blame.
Members dished out the punishment based on their guidelines for an admitted breach of Rule (K)2.1."Over a 30 year training career this is the first positive test of any horse trained by Mr Dunlop in the UK from more than 10,000 runners," his solicitor Rory Mac Neice said, arguing for a lower penalty. "The BHA accepts the source cannot be identified." The case also heard one of Dunlop's employees at his Newmarket stable admitted to using cocaine twice - firstly months before the horse's test and again afterwards.
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