Drug test ‘failure’ for two hoops

JOCKEYS Matt McGillivray and Dale Smith face a nervous time ahead of a stewards inquiry today after being stood down on Saturday night having been unable to provide a urine sample as part of random drug testing.

The pair waited until 7pm at Eagle Farm on Saturday trying to provide a sample. When they couldn’t, they offered to drive to the Sunshine Coast races yesterday, providing the sample they couldn’t the night before.

McGillivray had to forfeit rides at Caloundra yesterday and an inquiry has been scheduled for today.

Responding to calls from jockeys to have more random drug tests, members of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission were at Eagle Farm on Saturday, where they tested all jockeys.

After wasting to ride at the meeting, McGillivray and Smith were unable to supply a sample, despite trying for a considerable time after the last race. McGillivray said he lost 4kg between 6pm Friday afternoon and fulfilling engagements at Eagle Farm.

“I drank 2.4 litres of water after my last ride, but because our stomachs shrink so much, we feel sick when we drink that much, so you have to drink it slowly,” McGillivray said.

“It wasn’t until late that night that I could (urinate).”

A request was made to provide blood, but the jockeys were told testing procedures for blood are not yet in place. It is understood that thresholds for some substances are set at different levels by QML than those by racing authorities.

Chief Steward Peter Chadwick said under the rules of racing stewards had no option but to stand McGillivray and Smith down immediately.

Smith said his body was in shutdown because of “severe wasting”.

Jake Bayliss also was there for some time after the last, but eventually was able to provide a sample shortly before 7pm.