Greyhound stewards’ inquiry – trainer Rod Noden (Liberty Star)
Racing and Wagering Western Australia stewards conducted an inquiry on 22 January 2024 into reports received from the ChemCentre in Perth and Racing Analytical Services Limited (Vic), that the sample taken from Liberty Star following it racing in, and winning, Race 2 at Cannington on 1 October 2023 was found to contain the prohibited substance dexamethasone.
At the inquiry evidence was heard from:
- Chem Centre representative – Dr N Beckett
- RWWA Regulatory Veterinarian – Dr C McMullen
- RWWA Investigator – Mr B Bird
- Trainer of Liberty Star – Mr R. Noden
- Managing Owner of Liberty Star – Mr A Butterly
Mr Noden subsequently pleaded guilty to the following charges:
Charge 1 – GAR 141 (1) Greyhound to be free of prohibited substances.
Particulars of the charge being that Mr Noden as the trainer presented Liberty Star that was nominated for and did compete in Race 2 at Cannington on 1 October 2023 not free of the prohibited substance Dexamethasone.
Charge 2 – GAR 151 Treatment records to be kept.
Particulars of the charge being that Mr Noden as the trainer and person in charge of the greyhound Liberty Rules did fail to comply with the provisions of rule 151(1) in that he did fail to record the details of the treatment of dexamethasone by him to that greyhound when administering that substance to it in September 2023.
After adjourning to consider submissions made on penalty, stewards determined on 24 January 2024 to impose a fine of $5,000 with respect to Charge 1 and fine of $300 with respect to Charge 2.
Further, acting under GAR141 (4) stewards have determined to disqualify Liberty Star from the race in question with the placings to be amended accordingly with the commensurate implications to all prize money payments to apply.
When determining penalty, stewards considered, among other things:
- Mr Noden’s plea of guilty and that this was his first offence after many years of licensed involvement.
- That nature of the substance dexamethasone which was classified as a therapeutic substance (anti-inflammatory) commonly used under prescription by veterinarians for the treatment of greyhounds.
- That stewards could not be fully satisfied as to the explanation put forward by Mr Noden for its presence, relating to his belief that he must have administered the substance (which had previously been prescribed to him by a veterinarian to treat another greyhound) in error to Liberty Star when intending to treat Liberty Rules.
- That his explanation was not supported by any records as required by the Rules as also related to Charge 2.
- That the detection of such substances was considered to be a serious matter as such breaches of the rules had potential to bring the industry into disrepute. Accordingly, it was appropriate that the penalty reflected the industries intolerance for such offences.
- Precedence in past cases involving this substance.