On 9 May 2017 2016 the Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) Inquiry Panel charged trainer Mr Mark Azzopardi under rule 83(2) of the GRNSW Greyhound Racing Rules as follows:
That you, Mark Azzopardi, a registered trainer, while in charge of the greyhound ‘Very Choosy’, presented the greyhound for the purpose of competing in race eight at Bathurst on 19 September 2016 in circumstances where the greyhound was not free of any prohibited substance.
The prohibited substance in this instance was caffeine and its metabolites.
Mr Azzopardi failed to respond to the charge.
After considering all the evidence before the Inquiry, the GRNSW Inquiry Panel found Mr Azzopardi had breached the rules and determined to impose a period of disqualification of 13 years.
The GRNSW Inquiry Panel, in accordance with Rule 97, determined that the period of disqualification was to be cumulative and commence on the last day of Mr Azzopardi's current disqualification, which ends on 31 December 2026.
A copy of the decision of GRNSW can be found here.
Mr Azzopardi has been notified of his rights of appeal.
