IN MY VIEW

A WHISTLEBLOWER trainer has spoken to The Sunday Post about the problems in the sport.

He did so on the condition that we keep his identity a secret – because he is fearful that his co-operation could get him into trouble, both professionally and personally.

“Yes there is a problem with greyhound trainers in Scotland,” he says. “There are some who keep their animals in filthy conditions. These trainers give the sport of greyhound racing a bad name.

“Our kennels are purpose-built, modern and up to GBGB standards. “I wish others were, too. “I have seen animals die at flapping tracks.

“I’m sure it’s the result of doping.

“I saw one example at Armadale in the last year and the way the animal got distressed and sick so quickly, indicated to me that the dog had been given medication.

“The dead dog was bundled into the back of a van.

“I don’t know what happened to it.

“Of course, this is only a suspicion as I have no way of proving it died from drugs and doping.

“But there is a problem at flapping tracks and it’s well-known.

“The problem could be eradicated or tackled by testing like we have at reputable tracks.

“While doping can still happen at GBGB tracks, it is nowhere near a similarsized problem as the one at the flapping tracks.” WE have witnessed sickening conditions at licensed kennels.

Dogs are often discarded if not profitable, don’t chase, are injured, are too slow etc, with thousands going off the radar annually, presumed dead.

We want cradle-to-grave traceability of dogs.

Tens of thousands of greyhounds have previously been destroyed by use of the captive bolt gun.

This remains a perfectly legal way to kill them.

Dogs are often passed down to unregulated tracks like flapping tracks, where doping is apparent and destruction is cheap.