Hall Of Fame Trainer Graeme Bate Disqualified For 9 Months Over Positive Swab

Greyhound Racing Victoria have today advised that Victorian Hall Of Fame greyhound trainer has been handed an effective nine month disqualification for returning an elevated Testosterone level in one of his greyhounds.

Following advice from Racing Analytical Services Laboratory, the of Greyhound Racing Victoria conducted an investigation into the results of a pre race urine sample taken from greyhound ‘Gunda Bale' at the Geelong Greyhound Racing Club meeting held on Thursday, 28 March 2013.

During the investigation, Stewards heard evidence from registered trainer Mr. Graeme Bate, Mr. Joe Briffa (Registered Trainer), Paul Zahra (Racing Analytical Services Laboratory) and Dr. Steven Karamatic (Greyhound Racing Industry Veterinary Officer), Dr. Alastair Smith (Veterinary Surgeon at Veterinary Clinic) and Mr. Tony Vandenberg (General Manager of Compliance and Governance at the Association of Testing Authorities, Australia).

After considering the evidence, Stewards charged Mr. Bate with a breach of Greyhounds Australasia Rule 83(2) and (3) in that he did fail to present the greyhound ‘Gunda Bale' free of any prohibited substance for an event at the Geelong Greyhound Racing Club meeting held on Thursday, 28 March 2013 given that the pre race urine sample taken from the greyhound indicated the presence of the prohibited substance 5β-ANDROSTANE-3α, 17β-DIOL at a mass concentration greater than 10 ng/mL.

Under Rule 47.1 of the Greyhound Racing Victoria Local this constituted a Serious Offence. As a result, on Monday, 14 October 2013 the matter was heard before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board in the first instance under Greyhound Local Racing Rule 47.3 and Sections 83C(b) and 83M(1) of the Racing Act.

Mr. Graeme Bate was represented by Mr. Phillip Boulton SC who was instructed by Mr. Vincent Murphy Solicitor.

Mr. Paul Holdenson QC with Mr. Chris Winneke represented the Greyhound Racing Victoria Stewards instructed by Corrs Chambers Westgarth Solicitors.

Mr. Bate pleaded guilty to the charge.

After hearing all the evidence tendered and having regard to GAR83 (6), the RADB determined that Mr. Bate was guilty as charged and disqualified him for 12 months (with 3 months of this disqualification suspended pending no further breach of GAR83 during this period) effective from midnight Wednesday, 23 October 2013.

Acting under GAR83(4), the RADB also disqualified ‘Gunda Bale' from Event 7 – City of Greater Geelong Mixed 4/5 – at the Geelong Greyhound Racing Club meeting held on Thursday, 28 March 2013 and amended the placings accordingly.

Graeme Bate spoke with Australian Racing Greyhound in the wake of today's decision and was “naturally very disappointed and a bit taken aback” by the sentence. But it was the severity of the nine month disqualification which shocked the leading trainer, “I was expecting something, but I was not expecting that” said a despondent Bate.

Bate intends to appeal the decision with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (). He will be seeking a stay of proceedings from VCAT and GRV Stewards to allow him to continuing training until the VCAT appeal ruling can be decided upon. That VCAT hearing is expected to be heard and finalised within four to six weeks.

In recent years Bate has had what many believe to be a lucky run with positive swabs, having never been disqualified despite return a positive swab to in 2002, two positive swabs to in 2009 and 2010, and a positive swab to Diclofenac (an NSAID) in 2011. Those recent positive swabs have cost Bate an SA Derby and a Cup victory.

Graeme Bate's Recent Positive Swabs

Ironically, Bate was instrumental in a research project started in 2005 by Greyhounds Australasia (GA), Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL), the Australian Greyhound Veterinary Association (AGVA), and Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) which helped establish the current Testosterone threshold levels in bitches.

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noelywillis
noelywillis
10 years ago

@Kate Round the word is should’ve,go back to school

noelywillis
noelywillis
10 years ago

seems to be a lot of jealous people,this man has done for greyhounds what peter brock did for car racing

FrankieMeyer
FrankieMeyer
10 years ago

Same old story its not what u know its  who ya know  lol  its a joke  and it will never change  Sue

FrankieMeyer
FrankieMeyer
10 years ago

Agree   with u  Kate

Fry Zee
Fry Zee
10 years ago

At least Victoria takes the sport seriously (finally). Increased governance, increased prize money and an increased focus on provincial track meetings makes GRNSW look rather inadequate.

ban drugs
ban drugs
9 years ago

noelywillis peter brock never used illegal fuels

ban drugs
ban drugs
9 years ago

by doing that creates the problem of having a bitch that on a twice a year season may have limited race time, which then make owning a bitch not viable, therefore owning a dog becomes popular, bitches get put down. Not the level playing field they tried to aim for

ban drugs
ban drugs
9 years ago

Someone or many must be answerable to the racing industry for allowing this cheat to have so many positive tests and got away with it, how and why? I see minor infractions of drugs get small trainers nearly the same suspension usually accidental, but this is blatant systematic cheating with the use of illegal drugs, how many top wins have gone undetected or covered up by someone at grv

Bernie hewitt
Bernie hewitt
9 years ago

noelywillis silly comment.  He has cheated the industry.  I would like to know if his major breeder donates to his cheating cause, those idiotic wheelers.