Thoroughbred Stewards Inquiry Jockey Clinton Porter
RWWA Stewards have today completed the adjourned inquiry following Jockey Clinton Porter being found guilty to an offence under AR.81A (1) (b), which states:
A rider commits an offence and may be penalised when they refuse or fail to deliver a sample as directed by the Stewards, or tampers with, adulterates, alters, substitutes or in any way hinders the collection of such sample or attempts to do any of those things.
The particulars of the charge were as follows:
That Mr Porter failed to deliver a urine sample as directed at the Geraldton Turf Club race meeting on Sunday, 30 December 2018.
Mr Porter was stood down from riding under the provisions of AR.81A (3) on the above date, pending the completion of the inquiry.
The inquiry commenced on Wednesday, 30 January 2019 where Mr Porter was charged as above and the matter was adjourned by the Stewards to consider all of the evidence and determine the charge laid against him.
On Friday, 4 February 2019 the Stewards determined to find Mr Porter guilty as charged and submissions on penalty were heard on Wednesday, 13 February 2019. The inquiry was then adjourned to allow Stewards to give consideration to the matter of penalty.
Stewards have subsequently determined that Mr Porter’s Jockey’s licence be suspended in full for a period of nine (9) months with the commencement of the penalty backdated to 30 December 2018, being the date he was initially stood down.
In determining penalty, Stewards took into account the following factors:
- The seriousness of the offence
- Mr Porter’s prior record
- The need for the penalty to achieve both specific and general deterrence
- His personal circumstances