Joseph O’Brien has escaped sanction despite one of the horses he trains testing positive for a prohibited substance earlier this year.
In August, Pedisnap won the Golf Membership Gowran Apprentice Handicap at Gowran Park but returned an adverse finding for cobalt.
Cobalt is a naturally occurring substance in horses, though it is believed to improve their endurance at higher than normal levels.
Pedisnap tested above the international threshold of 100 ng/ml as set out in Rule 20(v) and Regulation 14 of the Rules of Racing and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Rules.
O’Brien requested that the B sample be tested and the results of the analysis carried out at Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques, Paris, confirmed the findings of the A sample.
Evidence was heard from Dr Lynn Hillyer, IHRB Chief Veterinary Officer/Head of Anti-Doping regarding the investigation into the adverse analytical finding. The Committee also noted an expert report from Professor Stuart Paine of the University of Nottingham.
O’Brien said that the cobalt came from a salt lick that the horse had been exposed to on a daily basis and on the day of the race.
Analysis of a sample of a salt lick from the same manufacturer corroborated that it contained cobalt at a concentration sufficient to result in the adverse analytical finding in Professor Paine’s expert view.
Pedisnap was disqualified and the stake forfeited, but the committee waived a €1,000 fine as they were satisfied O’Brien had taken all reasonable precautions to avoid a breach of the rule and that the substance had been administered unknowingly.
O’Brien was represented by Frank Crean BL instructed by Denis A Linehan, of Denis A Linehan & Co, Solicitors, Charleville, Cork. The case was presented by Cliodhna Guy, Head of Legal, Licensing & Compliance.
Michael John O'Connor was fined €1,000 after Awbeg Prince returned an adverse finding for cobalt after winning the McHale F5500 Baler Hurdle at Ballinrobe in May.
It was decided that O'Connor failed to take reasonable precautions to avoid a breach or the rules. Awbeg Prince was disqualified from the race and the stake forfeited.
