Greyhound Stewards Inquiry Trainer Mr Jason Marley – STANGA BOLT
RWWA Stewards have concluded an inquiry into reports from the ChemCentre and Racing Analytical Services Laboratory (RASL) advising that Cobalt at a concentration in excess of 100 nanograms per millilitre, being the threshold prescribed in the Greyhound Rules of Racing had been detected in a urine sample taken from STANGA BOLT after competing and winning Race 3 at Greyhounds WA Cannington on 27 October 2018.
At a hearing conducted on 13 December 2018, Stewards heard evidence from T2 Trainer Mr Jason Marley, RWWA Industry Veterinarian Dr Judith Medd, ChemCentre Analyst Ms Kelly Wilson and RWWA Principal Investigator Mr Geoff Johnson.
After considering all of the evidence, Mr Marley pleaded guilty to the following charges;
The first charge under GAR 83(2)(a) with the particulars being that he, as the trainer and a registered person with RWWA, presented STANGA BOLT to race in Race 3 at Greyhounds WA Cannington on 27 October 2018 not free of the prohibited substance Cobalt, evidenced by a concentration level in excess of 100 nanograms per millilitre in a urine.
The second charge under GAR83A with the particulars being that he, as the trainer and a registered person with RWWA, did administer the treatment RAPIDGEL by way of massage, to STANGA BOLT’S chest and back legs, on 27 October 2018, that being the day of the meeting the greyhound competed in, contrary to GAR 83A(1).
The Stewards heard submissions on the question of penalty and adjourned the inquiry in order to consider an appropriate penalty.
In considering the appropriate penalty the Stewards took into account the following:
• Mr Marley’s involvement in greyhound racing since 2005.
• The reported level of 140 ng/ml from the ChemCentre and nature of the prohibited
substance Cobalt.
• Mr Marley’s guilty pleas.
• The need for deterrence both general and specific.
• That this was Mr Marley’s first prohibited substance offence.
• Mr Marley’s personal and financial circumstances.
After considering submissions with respect to penalty the Stewards determined to impose a $500 fine for the charge under GAR 83A(1) and 12 month disqualification reduced to 9 months for the charge under GAR 83(2)(a) back dated from the time Mr Marley’s licence was suspended on 28 November 2018. Therefor the disqualification will expire at midnight on 27 August 2019.
In accordance with GAR 83 (4) STANGA BOLT was disqualified from the race in question with the placings amended accordingly with commensurate implications for stake money to be applied.
The direction previously imposed under Rule 92 (5) (a) preventing STANGA BOLT from being nominated for an event now ceases to apply and it is free to be nominated and compete in races.