Trainer Dylan Bairstow today attended an inquiry conducted by the Racing WA stewards in relation to
reports received from the ChemCentre in Perth and Racing Analytical Services Laboratory (RASL) in
Victoria concerning a sample that was taken from Canggu following it competing in, and winning, Race 7
at York on 23 May 2024.
The Rules of Racing prescribe that testosterone, when present in a gelding at or below 20 micrograms per litre in urine, is exempted from being a prohibited substance (i.e. – does not give rise to a breach of the rules relating to prohibited substances).
The results of analysis conducted by the ChemCentre had indicated a level of testosterone in the sample
of 24 micrograms per litre, whilst the results of analysis by RASL indicated a level of testosterone of 20
micrograms per litre. The results of analysis by RASL in isolation therefore not breaching the rules.
At today’s inquiry, scientific and analytical evidence was heard from ChemCentre Team Leader Racing
Chemsity Dr N Beckett, RASL Scientific Manager Dr A Cawley and Racing WA Head of Veterinary
Services Dr J Medd with respect to the reported levels.
That evidence indicated that the steroid profile for the sample was not consistent with the administration of
exogenous testosterone or a testosterone precursor. The expert opinion in the matter supported that
based on scientific and analytical evidence, the steroid profile seen in the sample was consistent with an
endogenous source.
In support of such opinion, the panel was referred to published papers titled “The Urinary Steroid Profile of
Geldings with ‘Elevated’ endogenous production compared to those administered anabolic agents” and
“Application of testosterone to epitestosterone ratio to horse urine – a complementary approach to detect
the administrations of testosterone and its pro-drugs in Thoroughbred geldings.”
The panel considered:
- expert opinions referred to above;
- the fact that the results of analysis by RASL did not report a level above the threshold;
- the report from the Racing WA Investigation Department;
- the evidence of trainer D Bairstow; and
- the relevant rules of racing which prescribe that “…the stewards retain a discretion to find that a breach has not been committed if, on the basis of scientific and analytical evidence available to them, they are satisfied that the level in the sample was of endogenous origin and/or as a result of endogenous activity”.
The panel were satisfied that the results of analysis were the result of endogenous activity and in all of the
circumstances that it was appropriate to exercise the discretion provided within the rules to not take any
action against Mr Bairstow or Canggu.
In arriving at this conclusion, the stewards were mindful that whilst this was the first case of this kind in
Western Australia, there had been several similar cases decided in other Australian jurisdictions which had
come to the same conclusion consistent with the matters outlined within the papers referred to at the
inquiry.