Month: May 2023

Following a successful launch on March 27, the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) is planning to resume enforcement of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program on May 22. Now more than ever, the Thoroughbred industry must embrace a national, uniform ADMC program for the benefit of its athletes and the sustainability of the sport.

One of the key benefits that the ADMC Program brings to Thoroughbred racing on a national scale is a transparent, efficient, fair, and consistent adjudication system.

1. Transparency: The ADMC Program requires public disclosure of alleged Anti-Doping Rule Violations once the Covered Person has been notified of the violation and Provisionally Suspended. The alleged violation will be reported by HIWU on its website, and the public information disclosed will include the date of the collection, the name of the Covered Person, the identity of the Covered Horse, the alleged ADMC Program Rule Violation, and the Prohibited Substance or Method detected/involved. Alleged Controlled Medication Rule Violations will be publicly disclosed once the B (“split”) Sample is confirmed by another lab or analysis of the Sample is waived by the Covered Person. In short, it will take weeks, not months, for an alleged violation to come to light.

2. Efficiency: The ADMC Program articulates specific timelines for the results management and adjudication processes, and parties can request an expedited hearing to resolve the eligibility of a Covered Person or Covered Horse prior to an upcoming race. Hearings of Anti-Doping Rule Violations will be held within 60 days of being requested, absent exceptional circumstances. Controlled Medication Rule Violations will generally be adjudicated in a few months. In summary, cases will not drag on for years.

3. Consistency and Fairness: In addition to samples being tested to the same levels and standards regardless of which laboratory performs the analysis, all alleged violations will be subject to the same penalties regardless of jurisdiction. Cases will be adjudicated by members of an independent Arbitral Body (Anti-Doping Rule Violations) or the Internal Adjudication Panel (Controlled Medication Rule Violations). For all cases, adjudicators will be selected so as to be free from conflict of interest, thus addressing any integrity concerns in the prosecution of cases.

While HIWU cannot speak to current procedures in each state, it looks forward to the opportunity to administer a national ADMC program that will restore public confidence in the safety of the sport and the integrity of its regulatory processes.

The post HIWU Outlines What Will Change Regarding Timelines, Public Disclosure Of Medication Positives May 22 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Jockeys Silvestre de Sousa and Vagner Borges have received harsh penalties from the Hong Kong Jockey Club for violating rules that prohibit riders from wagering or facilitating wagering.

According to a statement from Marc Van Gestel, chief stipendiary steward for the HKJC, de Sousa is suspended 10 months, with Vorges receiving a 12-month ban, both effective immediately. Both riders pleaded guilty to the charges against them during a hearing on Friday before the HKJC stewards following receipt of a report from the club's Department of Racing Integrity and Betting Analysis.

The riders admitted violating Rule of Racing 59 (3), which states:  “No jockey shall: bet or facilitate the making of a bet or have any interest in a bet on any race or any contingency relating to a race meeting.”

The Racing Post is reporting that de Sousa, a three-time champion jockey in Great Britain, may appeal.

Van Gastel's report included the following information:

The details of the charge being that whilst being licensed as a jockey by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, (Borges) did have an interest in a bet on the racehorse YOUNG BRILLIANT when it raced in Race 6 at the Happy Valley race meeting conducted on 26 April 2023.

The details of the charge being that whilst being licensed as a jockey by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, (de Sousa) did facilitate jockey Borges having an interest in a bet on the racehorse YOUNG BRILLIANT when it raced in Race 6 at the Happy Valley race meeting conducted on 26 April 2023.

In deciding the matter of penalty in respect of jockey Borges, the stewards took into consideration that it is fundamental to the integrity of racing that jockeys are not permitted to bet or to have an interest in a bet.  In mitigation, the stewards also took into consideration all submissions made by jockey Borges and, amongst other relevant matters, jockey Borges' guilty plea and unblemished record in relation to betting offenses.

In the circumstances, Jockey Borges was disqualified for a period of 12 months to commence immediately and expire on 12 May 2024.

In deciding the matter of penalty in respect of jockey de Sousa, the stewards took into consideration that it is fundamental to the integrity of racing that jockeys are not permitted to bet or to have an interest in a bet.  In mitigation, the stewards also took into consideration all submissions made by jockey de Sousa and, amongst other relevant matters, jockey de Sousa's guilty plea and unblemished record in relation to betting offenses.

In the circumstances, jockey de Sousa was disqualified for a period of 10 months to commence immediately and expire on 12 March 2024.

There was no evidence before the stewards that jockeys Borges and de Sousa had ridden their horses in the respective race with any intention other than to obtain the best possible placing for their mounts.

The post Hong Kong: Jockeys De Sousa, Borges Receive Lengthy Bans For Violating ‘No Betting’ Rules appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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