Racing WA stewards have concluded their inquiry into the report received from the Chem Centre in Perth that metformin had been detected in the sample taken from Emotional Damage, trained by Keith Batty, following it competing in and finishing first in Race 1 at Mandurah on 28 July 2024.
At the inquiry conducted on Monday, 7 October 2024, evidence was heard from Chem Centre Analyst Dr E Cook, Racing WA Regulatory Veterinarian Dr C McMullen, Racing WA Senior Investigator Mr A Walton and trainer Mr K Batty accompanied by his partner Ms P Collins.
Mr Batty was subsequently found guilty to a breach of Greyhound Rule of Racing 141(1)(a) relating to presenting Emotional Damage for the race in question not free of the prohibited substance metformin.
Having adjourned the inquiry to consider penalty, stewards have now determined to impose a penalty of six (6) months disqualification with effect from the date his licenses were suspended pending outcome of the inquiry, that being 24 September 2024.
In addition, pursuant to Rule 141 (4) Emotional Damage was disqualified from the race in question with placings to be amended accordingly and the relevant implications to all prizemoney to apply.
As metformin is considered a ‘permanently banned prohibited substance’ under Rule 139 (1)(l), pursuant to Rule 139 (4) Emotional Damage remains “ineligible to be nominated for any further event until a sample is taken that does not breach this rule.”
When determining penalty, stewards considered, among other things:
- Mr Batty’s personal circumstances and that this was his first offence after many years of licensed involvement. Further that his level of involvement was at a hobby level, and he did not have complete reliance on racing for his livelihood.
- That the reported level was low and similar to past cases where environmental contamination was identified as the most plausible explanation for the presence of the substance.
- That the inquiry was unable to establish how the substance came to be present in the greyhound.
- The nature of the substance detected, namely that metformin was a classified as an oral anti-hyperglycaemic medication, indicated for use in the management of diabetes in humans.
- That there are no registered medical formulas containing metformin approved for the use in greyhounds in Australia and it is not generally regarded as having any legitimate therapeutic use in racing greyhounds.
- The intent and purpose of the rule which is directed to ensuring a level playing field and maintaining the necessary confidence of those supporting or involved in the racing industry.
- The evidence that metformin was a specified permanently banned substance within the prohibited substance rules under Rule 139 (1) (l) by virtue of having an action or effect as an Adenosine Monophosphate Kinase Activator.
- That although penalties in some jurisdictions in relation to this substance have been fines, previous penalties issued in relation to this substance in Western Australia have all been periods of disqualification.
Trainers are reminded that the potential of contamination from improper practices in the stable/kennel environment is a matter that requires proactive measures and appropriate standards to eliminate such potential.
Information with respect to this is available within the Veterinary Notices section of the Racing WA website (Veterinary Notices - Racing & Wagering WA (rwwa.com.au).