Morrison risks suspension in Our Little Sister steroids case
Disciplinary panel starts inquiry into filly today Trainer could be hit with ban of up to 10 years
Eleven months after Our Little Sister tested positive for anabolic steroids in a class-six handicap at Wolverhampton, the case comes up before an independent disciplinary panel at High Holborn today.
The inquiry is to consider whether Hughie Morrison, her trainer, is in breach of rule (G) 2.1 by virtue of the fact that nandrolone and one of its metabolites, both prohibited substances, were found in the filly’s urine sample after the Betway Marathon Handicap on Jan 14.
Anabolic steroids are not allowed to be administered to a horse at any stage of its life and, in a case that has all the hallmarks of a Dick Francis novel, Morrison has left no stone unturned or expense spared in his attempt to find the culprit – he offered a £10,000 reward for information – and clear his name. However, although a recent case involving Philip Hobbs set a precedent when the trainer was not fined after successfully arguing he had not administered a prohibited substance for which one of his horses tested positive, under the rules of strict liability Morrison potentially stands to be disqualified for between one and 10 years. The guideline entry point is two years.
The inquiry is scheduled to last two days. The only certainty is that Our Little Sister will be disqualified from the race in which she finished eighth and last. She has already been retired and found a new home as a riding horse.
Meanwhile, Jamie Stier, the British Horseracing Authority’s chief regulatory officer, is to return home to Australia next year to head up the integrity services of Racing Victoria. Stier was the driving force behind the BHA plans to change racing’s stewarding system to a wholly professional one which has met such resistance from within the sport. The BHA is expected to announce the results of an industry-wide consultation shortly.