Dunedin racehorse owner Calvin Fisher has been disqualified from racing for 20 months and ordered to pay $9000 in costs for his part in New Zealand's first ever EPO-related racing case.
A decision on penalties was released by racing's Judicial Control Authority (JCA) yesterday, with Fisher receiving the stiffest penalty of the three men involved in the case.
Following a hearing in April, Fisher was found by racing's Judicial Control Authority to be the ''person primarily responsible'' for a vial of erythropoietin (EPO) reaching the stable of Ashburton thoroughbred trainer Lennard Faber last year.
The vial had come from former Invercargill standardbred trainer Don McRae, who used EPO as part of his medical treatment and stayed with Mr Fisher when visiting Dunedin for treatment. Fisher then passed on the vial to Faber.
The Racing Integrity Unit (RIU) was made aware of the vial by equine veterinarian Dr John Beeman, who visited Faber's stables on September 19 last year to administer pre-race medication to two horses starting in an upcoming race meeting at Riccarton.
Faber and Dr Beeman had a discussion about the contents of the vial and Dr Beeman later contacted the RIU, which started an investigation.
RIU inspectors visited Faber's property the next day and Faber gave them the vial, which he was keeping in his car.
Faber's four horses engaged at the Riccarton meeting the following day were scratched by stewards as a precaution.
Faber told investigators he did not plan to use the vial until he had talked to a veterinarian but the JCA said Faber should never have accepted the vial from Fisher.
''The committee takes the view that Mr Faber should never have taken possession of the vial,'' the decision said.
''It must be made plain to all who are involved in the industry that EPO has no place, whatever its claimed medicinal qualities might be.''
Faber, who has found work outside the racing industry and has not renewed his trainer's licence, was disqualified for 12 months and ordered to pay $9000 in costs to the RIU and JCA.
McRae, who has not held a training licence since 2011, was disqualified for 12 months and ordered to pay $800 in costs.
