Four riders failed drug tests in 2010

The Turf Club today expressed their disappointment after revealing four riders were caught with drugs in their system and one failed a breath test during 2010.

The governing body today announced their Integrity Racing Statistics for the past year.

The main statistics cover racecourse Stewards’ Enquiries, Appeals Body and Referrals Committee hearings, drug/alcohol testing of riders, drug testing of horses, licenses issued, non-runners, medical statistics, handicap ratings and off-times.

Claimer Francis Lawlor and apprentice Mark Enright tested positive for Furosemide (Lasix) while Adrian Joyce was found to have Furosemide and Amiloride in his system.

These are commonly used as diuretics and all three admitted to taking the drugs in a bid to lose weight. There were hit with fines varying from €250 to €350 for the offence while also having to pay costs of €250.

An unnamed apprentice, who was a minor, tested positive for metabolite of cannabis. They were fined €500 and banned for three months.

Alcohol breath testing of riders was carried out on 1,431 riders at 27 meetings. One test, Michael Darcy at Limerick May 3rd, was positive. He received a 12-day ban.

The number of positive results for horses was well down on the previous year, however, with only two out of 2,860 horses tested revealing illegal substances in their system. This was opposed to eight last year.

The Appeals Body and Referrals Committee were kept busy in 2010 with the highest number of cases (50) dealt with in the past five years.

The Appeals Body dealt with 16 cases of which two were chaired by an Independent Chairman.

The stats also showed a fall in the industry staff numbers with full time stable employees registered declined by 3.5%. The number of apprentice licenses issued also decreased by 10%.

Commenting on the figures, Turf Club Chief Executive, Denis Egan, expressed “disappointment at the increase in the number of positive drug tests on riders and the one positive breath test.”

In relation to the drug testing of horses, Denis Egan said he was “very pleased with the results” noting that the publication of guidelines relating to the responsible use of veterinary medicines in August 2009 had the desired effect.

He confirmed that the Turf Club regards this whole area as critical in ensuring the integrity of racing and that there would be no reduction in the testing either on or off the course.

Commenting on the medical statistics, the Turf Club’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Adrian McGoldrick said the increase in the injury rate per fall may be due in part to the “introduction of a new system for recording injuries which allows more detailed recording of injuries.

He noted that 50% of all falls in flat racing do not occur during the race. He also said “that incidence of concussion remains a worry and the need for a higher standard of helmets is a priority.

Currently CEN TC158 (European Central Committee for Standardisation) is reviewing the standards, but movement is slow.”

In relation to concussion he said “the new Concussion Protocol was approved by the Stewards of the Governing Bodies in 2009 and was implemented with effect from January 2010. Due to the Turf Club’s backing of this new protocol, jockeys now have the highest standard of concussion monitoring of any sporting body in Ireland.”

He said that “he was grateful to the Stewards for their support of this long-term project which should improve our diagnosis of concussion and allow riders to return safely to race riding, while preventing riders returning while still concussed.”

In conclusion, Dr. McGoldrick said that “such was the importance of concussion issues, he was currently drawing up a fact sheet for jockeys and trainers explaining more about the symptoms of concussion and ways of reducing the likelihood of it occurring.”

Denis Egan concluded by noting that, while there was only a 2% decrease in the total number of trainers licenses issued, the number of dual licenses issued fell by 10% which is indicative of a more focused approach by trainers.

He also said that a 7.5% fall in restricted trainers licenses was worrying and is further evidence of the effect that the economy is having on the racing industry.