Trainers Federation backs Morrison after BHA issues doping charges
Hughie Morrison, the East Ilsley trainer who has offered a £10,000 reward for information which will help clear his name after one of his horses returned a positive test for anabolic steroids in January, was formally charged by the British Horseracing Authority last night.
Morrison launched his plea for help here yesterday and the BHA hastily charged him with being in breach of Rule (G) 2.1 “by nature of the fact that nandrolone and its metabolite, both prohibited substances, were found in Our Little Sister’s urine sample at Wolverhampton on January 14”.
Morrison, who is convinced he is the victim of a malicious attempt to undermine his training operation, has said he has no knowledge of how the drug came to be in the horse’s system. Under the BHA’S rules of strict liability he faces a ban of between one and 10 years.
The BHA statement added that in accordance with its normal practice of assisting a trainer in circumstances such as these to establish the source of administration, racing’s ruling body “has carried out all reasonable inquiries it can with the full cooperation of Mr Morrison”.
The charges will be considered by the Disciplinary Panel, which is independent from the authority and a hearing has been initially scheduled for late June.
On top of Morrison’s offer, the BHA also stated that anyone with information should contact them or Racestraight, its telephone line that guarantees anonymity.
Morrison confirmed that among the facts he had given the BHA were the names of several people with potential grudges against him, but added he had no idea if any of them had been interviewed.
“Hopefully, now some of the forensic information we have requested from the BHA will be forthcoming,” he said. “We’re doing our best to keep our heads down and keep training winners.”
Morrison has the full backing of the National Trainers’ Federation and fellow trainers. NTF chief executive Rupert Arnold said the case had raised a number of concerns.
“In a system of strict liability, trainers shoulder huge responsibility; that also brings great vulnerability when the source of a prohibited substance is unknown.
“We totally endorse British racing’s strong integrity policy, including anti-doping, because all participants rely on public confidence. At the same time the investigatory and disciplinary system must not be a trap door through which the innocent may fall,” he said.