On 12 July 2023, the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) considered a charge issued by Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards against licensed trainer Justin Torney under Australian Harness Racing Rule (AHRR) 190A(4) which states:
Any person who is in possession of a substance specified in sub-rule (2) or a metabolite, artifact or isomer of such substance is guilty of an offence.
AHRR 190A(2) reads as follows:
For the purposes of sub-rule (1), the following substances are specified as prohibited substances:-
… (c) growth hormones and their releasing factors.
The particulars of the charge relate to four (4) vials of a white substance all labelled ‘EquiGen’ being located by Investigative Stewards at the registered stables of Mr Torney during a stable inspection on 13 October 2021.
Subsequent analysis by Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) confirmed that all four (4) vials contained equine somatotropin, which is a growth hormone and a prohibited substance as per AHRR 190A(2)(c).
Mr Torney pleaded guilty to the charge before submissions on penalty were heard on behalf of the HRV Stewards and Mr Torney.
Penalty
Mr Torney was fined $1000, with $500 of that fine suspended for a period of 12 months.
VRT Panel: Judge John Bowman (Chairperson) and Maree Payne.
The written decisions of the VRT can be found here.
(Please note that VRT Decisions will generally be published within 7-10 days of the date of hearing)