Two Tipperary greyhound owners have been fined after traces of a cocaine metabolite were found in the systems of two of their dogs.
The Irish Greyhound Board has ordered that any dogs presented by both owners for racing over the next six months be tested.
Derek O’Sullivan of Castleview Carrick on Suir was fined 2,000 Euro after his dog Billys Question tested positive for Benzoylecgonine.
The cocaine metabolite was discovered after the dog was presented for a sales trial at Cork Greyhound Stadium last June.
Mr O’Sullivan said the dog may have come into contact with the banned substance while being exercised in a field near his home.
However the control committee of the Irish Greyhound Board rejected this explanation. Tests are also to be carried out on any greyhounds Derek O’Sullivan presents for racing at Bord na gCon-licensed stadiums for six months.
Meanwhile Don Clancy of Kilmore, Cappawhite was fined 2,500 Euro after his greyhound Goes Wilder was found to have Benzoylecgonine in his system following a race at Limerick Greyhound Stadium in May.
He told the IGB that he had not exercised appropriate care in the greyhound’s feeding regime.
However the control committee noted that because of the “estimated screening levels detected in the sample in question”, it was satisfied that “this was not a food-contamination issue”.
Samples are also to be taken from all greyhounds under the care of Mr Clancy which are presented for racing at Bord na gCon-licensed stadiums for a period of six months.
