Cocaine canine..
Inquiry after champion greyhound tests positive for drug three times at races
A CHAMPION greyhound has tested positive for cocaine on three separate occasions, it has emerged.
Traces of the drug were found in Clonbrien Hero in samples taken at Cork stadium on June 24, July 1 and July 22. The routine tests were carried out by the Irish Greyhound Board on the dog trained by Irish Derby winner Graham Holland. IGB chief Gerard Dollard said any competitor caught with drugs in its system cannot race again until it is passed clear and any prize money will be frozen. He told RTE: “All sports, animal and human, have been grappling with doping and medication and the Irish Greyhound Board and the greyhound industry is no different. “Over the last couple of the years the Greyhound Board have devoted considerable resources, if you like, to upping its game. “New regulations have been introduced that any tests that do have results which are termed adverse analytical findings are published and they are then sent to a control committee to investigate whether there is a case or not to answer. “At this point in relation to Clonbrien Hero there has been adverse analytical findings, no further assumptions should be made beyond that and the case will now go forward to the control committee who are independent.” Traces of benzoylecgonine, which is the principal metabolite of cocaine, were found in the champion dog. Coke is understood to have the same effect on animals as it does on humans. The July 22 test was carried out on Clonbrien Hero at the Laurels final which it won in 28 seconds. It also landed the top prize of €30,000. Mr Holland hit the headlines last December when his dog Clares Rocket was abducted from his kennels in Golden, Tipperary. It was later recovered. In a statement, the racing authority said decisions may be appealed. It added: “IGB introduced secondary legislation in 2015 to provide for the publication of all adverse analytical findings and to ensure the publication of the outcome from all cases before the control committee. “Additionally in 2016, the Board introduced secondary legislation to provide for record keeping in relation to the use of medicines and treatment, as well as powers to implement the off-track sampling.”