Harness stewards’ inquiry – Trainer Ross Olivieri (Taking the Miki)
Racing and Wagering Western Australia stewards conducted an inquiry on Thursday, 24 November 2022, into reports from the ChemCentre in Perth and Racing Analytical Services Ltd (Vic) that pregabalin was detected in the sample taken from Taking the Miki, trained by Ross Olivieri, following it competing in and winning race five at Northam on 3 September 2022.
After hearing evidence from Mr Olivieri, managing owner of Taking the Miki Dr J Hayman, employee of Mr Olivieri trainer Mr G Playle, ChemCentre representative Dr B Dorakumbura, RWWA Head of Veterinary Services Dr J Medd and RWWA Senior Investigative Steward Mr P Criddle, Mr Olivieri pleaded guilty to the following charge:
Harness Rule of Racing 190 (1), (2) & (4) Presentation free of prohibited substances
Particulars:
Particulars of the charge being that Mr Ross Olivieri, as the trainer, presented Taking the Miki to race in race five at Northam on 3 September 2022, where it raced and finished first, not free of the prohibited substance pregabalin.
Having adjourned the inquiry to consider penalty, stewards have now determined to impose a penalty of six (6) months disqualification effective forthwith.
Accordingly, the penalty expires on 5 June 2023.
Further Taking the Miki was disqualified from the race in question in accordance with HRR195, with all relevant prize money to be returned and redistributed accordingly.
When determining penalty stewards considered, among other things:
- Mr Olivieri’s plea of guilty, personal circumstances and overall record over many years of licensed involvement, which included three previous offences relating to the presentation of horses not free of prohibited substances.
- The intent and purpose of the rule, which was directed to ensuring a level playing field and maintaining the necessary confidence of those supporting or involved in the racing industry.
- The nature of the substance detected, namely that pregabalin was registered for human use only with analgesic (pain relieving) and other properties commonly prescribed to treat pain.
- There were no registered veterinary pharmaceuticals containing pregabalin.
- The evidence did not establish contamination to be a likely factor and accordingly the inquiry was unable to establish how the substance came to be detected.
- This was the first detection of pregabalin in Western Australia and accordingly the penalty issued would set the standard.
- The detection of substances intended primarily for human use which have no legitimate therapeutic use in racing horses was a serious matter that required suitable penalty.
- The potential risks to welfare for both horse and driver when analgesic substances are present when racing.
- Past penalties concerning other human-only registered medications, particularly those that were not classified as anti-inflammatories, where the majority had resulted in disqualifications.