Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) stewards conducted an inquiry on 19 June 2024 into reports received from ChemCentre in Perth and Racing Analytical Services Limited (Vic), that the blood sample taken from Frantic Phyllis after winning Race 1 at Cannington on 7 January 2024, was found to contain the prohibited substance Carprofen.
At the inquiry evidence was heard from:
- Chem Centre representative – Dr N Beckett
- RWWA Regulatory Veterinarian - Dr J Medd
- RWWA Investigator – Mr T Walton
- Trainer of Frantic Phyllis - Mr A Smithson
After considering all the evidence provided at the inquiry, Mr Smithson pleaded guilty to the following charge under Rule 141(1)(a).
– GAR 141(1)(a) Greyhound to be free of prohibited substances.
The particulars being, Mr Adam Smithson, as the trainer and a registered person with RWWA, presented Frantic Phyllis to compete in Race 1 at Greyhounds WA Cannington on 7 January 2024 not free of the prohibited substance Carprofen.
After adjourning to consider submissions made on penalty, stewards determined to issue a $5000 fine.
Further, acting under GAR141 (4), stewards determined to disqualify Frantic Phyllis from the race in question, with placings to be amended accordingly and commensurate implications to all prize money payments to apply.
When determining penalty, stewards considered, among other things:
- Mr Smithson’s guilty plea and that this was his first prohibited substance offence after 15 years of involvement in the greyhound industry.
- That nature of the substance carprofen which was classified as a therapeutic substance (anti-inflammatory) commonly used under prescription by veterinarians for the treatment of greyhounds.
- That the detection of such substances was considered to be a serious matter as such breaches of the rules had potential to bring the industry into disrepute. Accordingly, it was appropriate that the penalty reflected the industries intolerance for such offences.
- Precedence in past cases involving this substance.