Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) stewards have finalised deliberations on penalty following analysts' reports of the finding of O-Desmethylvenlafaxine in the urine sample taken from Havago Megsie after that greyhound won Race 4 - the Sportingbet Sprint Series Heat (520 metres) - at Wentworth Park on 6 June 2014.
Consistent with the protocols established for dealing with such reports under the GRNSW Prohibited Substance Penalty System, trainer Joseph Sciberras was advised of the reports received from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory and Racing Analytical Services Ltd, Victoria, via written notification of the laboratory findings.
Following alternate correspondence, Mr Sciberras pleaded guilty to a charge under Gar 83 (2) (a) of having presented Havago Megsie for the event other than free of any prohibited substance in that the urine sample taken from the greyhound after the event was found on confirmatory analysis to contain O-Desmethylvenlafaxine.
After GRNSW had considered submissions from Mr Sciberras on penalty he was disqualified for a period of five weeks.
In considering penalty, stewards took into account factors such as Mr Sciberras' unblemished record in 31 years of training, his guilty plea, his personal circumstances, the nature of the substance and its Category 5 rating in the penalty guidelines, as well as the absence of any significant wagering on Havago Megsie in the event.
Under Gar 83 (5), Havago Megsie was disqualified from the event in question as well as its seventh place in the final of the event conducted at Wentworth Park on 14 June 2014. Placings were amended accordingly. Mr Sciberras was advised of his right of appeal.
