RWWA Maintains World Class Standards in Integrity
27 November, 2018
Industry
Racing and Wagering Western Australia’s (RWWA) Integrity Department have today released their end of year report for 2017/18.
RWWA’s Racing Integrity Division is focused on delivering the highest levels of integrity and welfare for both participants and animals, ensuring confidence in the WA Racing Industry at all levels.
This is achieved by providing and promoting a fair, safe and ethical racing industry for all through the use of proactive best practice methods of prevention, detection, investigation and enforcement.
General Manager Racing Integrity Denis Borovica said that it has been a particularly busy year for the integrity team, who officiated at some 850 race meetings throughout the year, involving close to 8,000 individual races conducted from as far north as Kununurra to as far south as Esperance.
“Given the number of races we run each year it is a testament to the industry that our results are a positive reflection on the health of the integrity of WA Racing across all three codes,” said Borovica.
“RWWA continues to invest strongly in integrity and welfare initiatives with $1.3m invested in sample analysis for prohibited substances alone. “
“In addition to this, in 2017/18 a further $1,015,000 was invested in specific animal welfare initiatives.”
The full report provides Key Performance Indicators in relation to the integrity management of the Western Australian racing industry, highlighting RWWA’s commitment to the integrity and transparency of racing.
Key Highlights
- During the year a total of 8,605 individual animal swabs were taken across the three codes of racing, and all metropolitan winners in harness and thoroughbreds were swabbed along with comparatively high rates of swabbing across the smaller number of registered participants in greyhounds, the total number of swabs ensured a high degree of testing.
- As announced in August, ChemCentre investment into additional instrumentation complemented the existing fleet of modern screening technologies by broadening the scope of core testing for each sample.
- Through the combination of high rates of testing and expanded core testing, the total number of positive swabs increased from 10 in the previous year to 28 for this year. Of these, 13 related to the detection of arsenic, possibly due to or impacted by horses chewing Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA).
- Of the remaining 15 positive swabs, nine related to elevated cobalt levels above the prescribed threshold, two relating to TCO2 above the threshold, one to caffeine in greyhounds and the other three were of a therapeutic nature.
- A total of 35 inquiries were heard by Major Inquiries panel, comprised of the most senior and experienced stewards, that deliberate on significant matters such as positive swabs and other serious offences. A total of 19 disqualifications were issued, reflecting a strong commitment to ensuring a fair and level playing field for all.
- Very few of those matters reviewed on appeal by the independent Racing Penalties Appeal Tribunal were allowed in full with most being subject to only penalty adjustments.
The full KPI report is attached below.
ENDS
Media Contact
Denis Borovica – General Manager Racing Integrity
P: 9445 5427
E: denis.borovica@rwwa.com.au
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