Patrick Wood Disqualified For Ten Years

Offence:

GAR 83(2)(a):The owner, trainer or person in charge of a greyhound nominated to compete in an Event shall present the greyhound free of any prohibited substance.

Report

Greyhound have concluded an inquiry into analysts' reports of the finding of , 4-hydroxyamphetamine, , , , and in the urine sample taken from Feedback Icon after that greyhound won the Mount Franklin Maiden Heat (520m) at on 17 July 2014.

Feedback Icon's trainer Patrick Wood failed to appear at the inquiry despite a direction to attend from stewards. As a result, the inquiry proceeded in Mr Wood's absence.

Evidence was taken from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory's (ARFL) Dr Adam Cawley. Written evidence was submitted from the ARFL, Racing Analytical Services Victoria and investigator Bill Beekman.

During a kennel inspection conducted at Mr Wood's premises, admissions were made of administration of an amphetamine tablet and a spoonful of coffee two days prior to the race. These admissions however were refuted by Dr Cawley with the levels of the amphetamine being in excess of five times greater than that ever returned to the same substance, which was consistent with a race day administration. Similarly the detected levels of the caffeine and its metabolites also supported race day administration.

After failing to attend the initial scheduled inquiry, Mr Wood was charged by correspondence with a breach of GAR 83(2)(a), and directed to formally lodge a plea with respect to the charge. Mr Wood also ignored this direction, with stewards in recognition of his admissions lodging a plea of guilty on his behalf in his absence.

After considering all the evidence, stewards disqualified Mr Wood for a period of ten years.

In determining penalty, stewards took into account Mr Wood's record whereby in the lone three urine samples taken from greyhounds trained by him, this was the third occasion he had been found guilty under the prohibited substance . Stewards also factored in the excessive level of the Category Two substance under the GRNSW Penalty Guidelines, the lack of contrition shown by Mr Wood for his actions, and the general deterrence for similar behaviour, enforcing GRNSW's policy of drug free racing.

Under GAR 83(4) Feedback Icon was disqualified from the race and the placings amended accordingly.

Mr Wood was advised of his right of appeal.

ARG Opinion:

Great to see GRNSW putting their foot down and acting with authority on such a major issue. With such a high level reading it is pertinent that they set a precedent for all other participants that disregarding the rules of greyhound racing will not be tolerated. Mr Wood refusing to appear at the inquiry or enter a plea further emphasises his wrong doing and disregard for the sport and makes him a prime example of the type of person we do not need in the greyhound racing industry. In ARG's opinion, three positives from just three swab samples should see him banned for life, but, we guess a decade is a good start.

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Evan Kounavelis
Evan Kounavelis
9 years ago

How does wood get 10 and bate only got 2. What a joke

Gary Mannion
Gary Mannion
9 years ago

Should be three strikes and your out. Let’s hope this is the start of real penalties. He shouldn’t be allowed to associate with greyhound people either.

Kyleigh Fahey
Kyleigh Fahey
9 years ago

Well if you look up disqualification he can’t associate with greyhound people in the interest if racing

Corey Mutton
Corey Mutton
9 years ago

Good bye, you cheat!
What gets me is they must be loosers out there out for a win in life that bad they stoop to those levels.
I say blanket swabs every dog every race for a month and we might just get rid of the loosers out of this sport.
And I mean the person or persons not any dog.

Corey Mutton
Corey Mutton
9 years ago

The justice is by getting him disqualified, he won’t be able to do it to another dog.

Joe De Freitas
Joe De Freitas
9 years ago

Seriously .. 3 chances.?? Drugs of the sort mentioned should NEVER be given a 2 nd chance. Go to Bali and see if you get a 2nd chance.

Patrick Farr
Patrick Farr
9 years ago

Good article Kat

Evan Kounavelis
Evan Kounavelis
9 years ago

How does wood get 10 and bate only got 2. What a joke

Gary Mannion
Gary Mannion
9 years ago

Should be three strikes and your out. Let’s hope this is the start of real penalties. He shouldn’t be allowed to associate with greyhound people either.

Kyleigh Fahey
Kyleigh Fahey
9 years ago

Well if you look up disqualification he can’t associate with greyhound people in the interest if racing

Corey Mutton
Corey Mutton
9 years ago

Good bye, you cheat!What gets me is they must be loosers out there out for a win in life that bad they stoop to those levels.I say blanket swabs every dog every race for a month and we might just get rid of the loosers out of this sport.And I mean the person or persons not any dog.

Corey Mutton
Corey Mutton
9 years ago

The justice is by getting him disqualified, he won’t be able to do it to another dog.

Joe De Freitas
Joe De Freitas
9 years ago

Seriously .. 3 chances.?? Drugs of the sort mentioned should NEVER be given a 2 nd chance. Go to Bali and see if you get a 2nd chance.

Patrick Farr
Patrick Farr
9 years ago

Good article Kat