Thoroughbred Stewards Inquiry – Trainer Mr Bruno Monteleone
On Thursday 17 June 2021, Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA)Stewards conducted an inquiry into reports received from the Chem Centre WA and Racing Analytical Services Ltd (RASL – VIC) confirming the presence of the prohibited substance Naproxen in the sample taken from DESIGNER PRINCE following it competing in and winning Race 6 at Bunbury on Wednesday,17 February 2021.
Stewards also inquired into an item labelled Equigen, located in the vehicle of trainer Mr B Monteleone at the time of inspection of his training premises when advising him of the report of irregularity relating to DESIGNER PRINCE on 1 April 2021.
After hearing evidence from Chem Centre representative Dr B Dorakumbura, RWWA Regulatory Veterinarian Dr C McMullen, Senior Investigative Steward Mr Paul Criddle and trainer Mr B Monteleone, Mr Monteleone pleaded guilty to the following charges.
Charge 1: AR 245 (1)(a)
Particulars of the charge: That he did administer by way of 4 Naprosyn tablets, Naproxen to DESIGNER PRINCE which was detected in the sample taken from it following it running in and winning Race 6 at Bunbury on 17 February 2021.
Charge 2: AR250 (a)
Particulars of the charge: That he as the licensed trainer did have in his possession on 1 April 2021, the Prohibited list A Substance Equine Growth Hormone (Somatotropin) as located in the console of his vehicle by RWWA Investigator that day.
After adjourning to consider penalty the Stewards determined to impose a four (4) month disqualification for Charge 1 and a three (3) month disqualification for charge 2.
Taking into account factors in mitigation and principles of totality, Stewards directed that one month of the penalty for Charge 2 was to be served concurrently.
Accordingly, the total period of disqualification imposed was six months which was backdated to commence as from the date his license was suspended (9 June 2021) pending outcome of the inquiry. The penalty therefore expires at midnight on 9 December 2021.
Further, acting under AR240(1) the Stewards determined to disqualify DESIGNER PRINCE from the race in question with the placings to be amended accordingly with the commensurate implications to all stake money and payments to apply.
In considering penalty Stewards took into account:
- Mr Monteleone’s overall record in racing which included two prior offences involving prohibited substances he incurred many years ago and that his more recent record was good, albeit he had only been subject to post-race swabs a comparative small number of times given his “hobby” level of involvement.
- Mr Monteleone’s personal circumstances and pleas of guilt to both charges.
- That Naproxen was a medication intended for humans and had not been administered on veterinary advice.
- That the Equigen located in his vehicle was an Equine Growth Hormone (Somatotropin) and thus was a serious risk to the integrity of racing as reflected by it being a Prohibited List A substance.
- That the bottle containing the Equigen was labelled with a date of manufacture of June 1999 and was found in the console of his vehicle intact and had not been used.
- Past cases as were relevant to each charge.
- The potential for such matters to tarnish the reputation of racing and the need for the penalties to properly reflect RWWA’s intolerance of such offences.