Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) stewards have concluded their inquiry into reports from ChemCentre and Racing Analytical Services Limited (Vic) that cobalt in excess of the threshold of 100 micrograms/litre and trendione had been detected in the post-race urine sample taken from Maddy Rocks, trained by Kevin Nolan, following it competing in and winning Race 1 at Gloucester Park on 22 March 2024.
At the inquiry conducted over two hearings, (Thursday, 25 June and Monday, 15 July 2024), evidence was heard from Mr Nolan, ChemCentre representative Dr N Beckett, RWWA Head of Veterinary Services Dr J Medd and RWWA Senior Investigator Mr A Walton.
Subsequently, Mr Nolan pleaded guilty to the following charges:
Charge 1 HRR 190 (1) (2) (4)
Particulars:
That you Mr Kevin Nolan, as the trainer, presented Maddy Rocks to race at Gloucester Park on Friday 22 March 2024, where the mare raced and won Race 1 not free of the prohibited substance cobalt, evidenced by a concentration in excess of 100 micrograms per litre in urine in a post-race urine sample taken from Maddy Rocks.
Charge 2 HRR 190 (1) (2) (4)
Particulars:
That you Mr Kevin Nolan, as the trainer, presented Maddy Rocks to race at Gloucester Park on Friday 22 March 2024, where the mare raced and won Race 1 not free of the prohibited substance trendione, which is a metabolite of the anabolic steroid trenbolone.
Charge 3 HRR 194B
Particulars:
That you Mr Kevin Nolan, had in your possession and on your training premises on 30 May 2024 an injectable product, namely Hemoplex, which contained cobalt salts, which is prohibited under the Rules of Racing.
Charge 4 HRR 190B (1) (6)
Particulars:
That you Mr Kevin Nolan, have failed to comply with HRR 190B (1) (a) and (b) by failing to list all therapeutic substances and record all treatments administered to Maddy Rocks.
After adjourning to consider submissions on penalty, stewards have now determined the following:
Charge 1: Five (5) years disqualification.
Charge 2: Six (6) months disqualification.
Charge 3: Three (3) months disqualification.
Charge 4: $750 fine.
Stewards direct that the terms of disqualification for charges 1, 2 and 3 are effective immediately and are to be served concurrently, backdated to 13 June 2024, on which day Mr Nolan’s license was suspended pending completion of the inquiry.
Acting under HR 195, stewards have determined to disqualify Maddy Rocks from the race in question with placings to be amended accordingly, with commensurate implications to all stake money and payments to apply.
Further, acting under the provisions of HRR 190A (1) (b), HRR 190AA (4) (a) (b) and HRR 65, stewards have determined to disqualify Maddy Rocks as the winner of Race 1 at Gloucester Park on 26 March 2024, with placings to be amended accordingly with commensurate implications to all stake money and payments to apply.
Pursuant to HRR 190AA (4) (a) (b), Maddy Rocks will not be permitted to start in any race or be used for the purposes of breeding for a period of 12 months from 22 March 2024 and only after an Androgenic Steroid Clearing Certificate is provided.
In determining penalty, stewards took into account the following factors, including, but not limited to:
- Mr Nolan’s guilty pleas and personal circumstances.
- Mr Nolan’s record which shows four (4) prior breaches of the prohibited substance Rules, specifically in 1999, 2005, 2008 and 2013 to elevated levels of TCO2. The current matters being his fifth and sixth breach of the Rules in relation to prohibited substances.
- The nature of the prohibited substances, both being potentially performance enhancing and that Anabolic Androgenic Steroids and metabolites have been specified as prohibited substances under Rule 190A (2) since 2014 and effectively are permanently banned substances.
- The seriousness and circumstances of these matters.
- The negative perceptions that arise when offences of this nature occur which tarnishes the image and integrity of harness racing.
- The need for all penalties to carry a suitable level of deterrence.