Racing WA stewards have concluded an inquiry into reports from ChemCentre in Perth and Racing Analytical Services Limited (Vic) that sotalol had been detected in the following:
- Sample taken from Lord Titanium following it racing in, and winning, Race 4 at Gloucester Park on 15 April 2025.
- Sample taken from Lord Titanium following it racing in, and winning, Race 8 at Pinjarra on 19 May 2025.
After hearing evidence from Trainer Mr De Campo, ChemCentre representative Dr N Beckett and Racing WA Head of Veterinary Services Dr J Medd at an inquiry conducted on Wednesday, 23 July 2025, Mr De Campo pleaded guilty to the following charges:
Charge 1. Harness Rule of Racing 190 (1), (2) & (4) - Presentation free of prohibited substances
That Mr De Campo as the licensed trainer presented Lord Titanium to race in Race 4 at Gloucester Park on 15 April 2025, where it raced and finished first, not free of the prohibited substance sotalol.
Charge 2 Harness Rule of Racing Rule 190 (1), (2) & (4) - Presentation free of prohibited substances
Particulars
That Mr De Campo as the licensed trainer presented Lord Titanium to race in Race 8 at Pinjarra on 19 May 2025, where it raced and finished first, not free of the prohibited substance sotalol.
Charge 3 Harness Rule of Racing 190B (4) - Log Book
Particulars
That on 23 May 2025, Mr De Campo did not produce on request his logbook or register for inspection by the stewards.
Stewards have now completed deliberations with respect to penalty and determined to impose the following penalties.
- Charge 1 – Three (3) months disqualification.
- Charge 2 – Three (3) months disqualification.
- Charge 3 - $250 fine.
Further, stewards directed that the second three-month disqualification period be served partially concurrently, with the first two months to be served with the period of disqualification imposed with respect to Charge 1, and the remaining one month of disqualification to be converted to a period of suspension to be served cumulatively.
The total period of disqualification is therefore three months followed by one month suspension. The fine issued is to be paid in full.
In addition, pursuant to Rule 195, Lord Titanium has been disqualified from the two races in question, with placings to be amended accordingly with commensurate implications for prizemoney to apply.
When determining penalty, stewards considered, among other things:
- Mr De Campo’s guilty pleas and personal circumstances.
- That this was his first offence after many years of licensed involvement.
- That the reported level was most likely attributable to the direct actions of Mr De Campo failing to adopt appropriate standards as described within the published Notice to Trainers concerning possibility of contamination (see notice-to-trainers---possibility-of-contamination.pdf) to prevent the transference of his personal medication to his horse.
- The nature of the prohibited substance detected, namely that sotalol is registered for human use only and belongs to the group of medicines called beta blockers used to treat and prevent abnormal heart rhythms.
- The detection of substances intended primarily for human use which have no legitimate therapeutic use in racehorses was a serious matter that required a suitable penalty.
- Past penalties issued in similar circumstances relating to human medications being detected in horses that have competed in races which have all resulted in disqualification, including those that were reviewed on appeal.
- The intent and purpose of the Rule 190(1), (2) & (4) which was directed to ensuring a level playing field and maintaining the necessary confidence of those supporting or involved in the racing industry.
Trainers are reminded that the potential of contamination from improper practices in the stable environment is a matter that requires proactive measures and appropriate standards to eliminate such potential. Information with respect to this is available within the Prohibited substances section of the Racing WA website (e.g. notice-to-trainers---possibility-of-contamination.pdf).