NSW 9th Anabolic Steroid Positive Earns A 9 Month Suspension

Written By Kevin Pitstock, Editor & Australian Greyhound Racing Expert Contributor Tuesday 10th March 2009

New South Wales GHHRA Stewards have released details of New South Wales’ 9th Anabolic Steroid positive swab, and this anabolic steroid positive swab is the first that is not due to Stanozol or its metabolites.

New South Wales greyhound trainer, Mrs Helen Simmons has been found guilty of presenting Perle D’Or to race under the influence of Boldenone. Boldenone is a key ingredient in the Veterinary anabolic steroid commercially marketed as “Drive”, that comprises boldenone undecylenate and methandriol dipropionate.

New South Wales GHRRA Stewards on the 4th March 2009 finalised an inquiry into the positive finding of Boldenone 1, 4- Andostadiene-3, 17 Dione in the urine sample taken from Perle D’Or at The Gardens on the 17 December 2008.

On the day in question Perle D’Or reversed the from of her first 8 starts, all of which were unplaced; to win by 10 lengths, leading all the way at the odds of $36.00. Perle D’Or has yet to be placed in a further 4 runs since that win.

The inquiry opened on the 4 March 2009 where evidence was taken from Mr Wal Simmons, representing Mrs Helen Simmons, due to exceptional circumstances.

Mr Simmons advised the inquiry that he could not explain where the drug had come from; his only explanation was the possibility of the drug coming from the horse meat he had been feeding the greyhound.

Mr Simmons pleaded not guilty on behalf of Mrs Simmons to a breach of Rule 83(2) (a)
which provides:-

(2) The owner, trainer or person in charge of a greyhound-
(a) nominated to compete in an Event;

shall present the greyhound free of any drug.

The particulars of the charge being that Helen Simmons on 17th December 2009 presented the greyhound Perle D’Or for an event being race one The Gardens Sports Club Maiden held at The Gardens other than free of prohibited drugs in that the race day urine sample taken from the said greyhound has returned on confirmatory analysis positive to Boldenone 1, 4-Andostadiene-3, 17 Dione (Rule 83(2) (a) Rules of Greyhound Racing).

After further deliberation Stewards found Mrs. Simmons guilty to a breach of Rule 83(2) (a).

After consideration on the matter of penalty Mrs. Simmons was suspended for a period of nine months.
The following factors carried weight in the Stewards’ decision :