On 23 January 2014, HRSA Stewards conducted an inquiry following a urine sample provided by Driver, Dean Girardi, which was found upon analysis to contain the banned substances d-amphetamine and d-methamphetamine. Mr Girardi was charged and subsequently found guilty by HRSA under Rule 252 (1) and immediately disqualified for 2 years.
Mr Girardi then lodged an Appeal against the decision and was granted a stay of penalty. The appeal was set down for Thursday 13 March, however following an application by Mr Girardi’s legal counsel, the Racing Appeals Tribunal granted an adjournment until early May. This was on the basis that Mr Girardi and his lawyer wished to seek expert opinion in relation to the analysis of the sample involved.
The Appeal was then delayed and was due to be held on Tuesday 23 June, however Mr Girardi’s Lawyer requested another adjournment due to a request for further testing of the substances, which the Racing Appeals Tribunal has agreed to. Therefore the Appeal has now been deferred to early August.
HRSA wishes to stress that its direct control of this case concluded once the initial hearing was held on 23 January 2014. Since that date, this matter has been under the direct control of the Racing Appeals Tribunal.
Darryl Southgate
Acting Chairman of Stewards
