Greyhounds put in danger by cheating trainers

CAMPAIGNERS are calling for greyhound racing to be banned in Scotland after it was revealed some are testing positive for cocaine and amphetamines.

It comes ahead of an animal welfare group meeting by cross party MSPs tomorrow.

Steroids, beta blockers and prohormones – used by body builders – were among the prohibited substances found in the bloodstreams of greyhounds at Shawfield Stadium in Glasgow since 2009.

Five of the 28 positive tests at the ground involved cocaine, an investigation in the Sunday Post revealed.

Cocaine can prove fatal for dogs and can lead to seizures, heart attacks and strokes. More than 900 BY JOHN DINGWALL john.dingwall@dailyrecord.co.uk racing dogs died last year in the UK including 242 trackside. Another 4963 greyhounds suffered injuries.

Shawfield, in Rutherglen, near Glasgow, is Scotland’s only registered greyhound racing stadium.

Details of doping offences at Shawfield are recorded by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, which has been accused of failing to tackle drug cheats and being negligent about animal welfare issues.

The GBGB says that the welfare of greyhounds remains its highest priority, adding that drug testing at Shawfield has been increased by 50 per cent over the past year.

Some trainers caught for offences at Shawfield were repeat offenders but were only reprimanded or suspended.

Campaigners from Say No To Greyhound Racing In Scotland said: “The law is being broken with the use of class-A drugs and our animal welfare laws are being breached.

“Our MSPs are in a position to take action to prevent this criminality and abuse and the fact they are choosing not to is something that will concern people.”

Trainers have previously revealed the use of drugs to affect the performance of their dogs to undercover reporters.

One trainer boasted on a video how he deliberately slowed down his dogs in order to rig races to get better odds.