Harness Racing SA Stewards concluded an inquiry into a report received from Racing Analytical Services Ltd that O-desmethylvenlafaxine was detected in a urine sample taken from LOVING LIFE following its win in Race 4, Henry Osborn Fodder Store Pace at Port Pirie on 14 October 2016.
The ‘B’ sample was confirmed by Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory in New South Wales.
O-desmethylvenlafaxine is a metabolite of Venlafaxine which is an ingredient in human anti-depressants. Evidence was taken from Wade Knight including that no occupant of the property takes medication that contains that ingredient.
Mr Knight pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 190(1), 190(2) and 190(4) for presenting LOVING LIFE to race not free of a prohibited substance.
In determining penalty, stewards took into account:
· the guilty plea
· this was Mr Knight’s first offence for prohibited substances
· his licence history
· his personal circumstances
· previous penalties for this type of drug
Mr Knight was suspended from holding a licence for 12 months, backdated to the date he was stood down, that being 7 December 2016. Under Rule 15(1)(ad) Mr Knight was ordered to pay $1500 to HRSA to cover the cost of analytical testing.
Acting under Rule 195, LOVING LIFE was disqualified from the race and the placings amended accordingly.
Barbara Scott
Chair of Stewards