Harness stewards’ inquiry – trainer Mike Reed (Ragazzo Mach NZ)
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) stewards have been advised by the ChemCentre in Perth that Stanozolol was detected in an out-of-competition blood sample taken from Ragazzo Mach NZ on Wednesday, 4 January 2023.
The findings of the ChemCentre report have been verified by the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) in New South Wales.
Stanozolol is a synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid and is therefore considered to be a permanently banned substance within the RWWA Harness Rules of Racing as provided by Rule 190A (2)(r).
A stewards’ inquiry is scheduled to be conducted on Monday, 20 March 2023 at RWWA’s head office in relation to these reports, which Mr Reed has been directed to attend.
As the matter is now the subject of an inquiry, and given the seriousness of the reports, stewards have determined to act in accordance with Harness Rule of Racing 183 (d) and have directed that Mr Reed’s licence with RWWA be suspended forthwith and that no harness horse owned or trained by Mr Reed is permitted to compete in or be nominated for any event until the conclusion of the inquiry.
Further, Ragazzo Mach NZ is not permitted to compete in or be nominated for any event until the inquiry is concluded.