Mumbai: The three trainers — Pesi Shroff, Sheraz Sunderji and Cooji Katrak — who were punished by the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) because of their horses testing positive for anabolic steroid boldenone, are likely to move the Board of Appeal (BOA). The punishment comes into force from September 5.
Shroff was handed a 30-day suspension and a fine of Rs 10,000, Sunderji was slapped a 45-day suspension and a fine of Rs 10,000, while Katrak was suspended for 120 days with a fine of Rs 20,000 for his two horses by the stewards on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, RWITC chairman Vivek Jain clarified the stewards’ stand with regards to considering offences committed only in the last five years and giving the option to trainers to conduct an independent investigation.
“The five-year cutoff rule has been followed in virtually every medication inquiry since the new rules came into effect in 2001, under at least three different chairmen. Some discretionary days have been added for infringements beyond five years,” Jain told TOI.
He cited a few cases since 2003, like the ones against Katrak (2005), Hosidar Daji (2007), Dallas Todywalla (2003) and Bezan Chenoy (2004, 2010). “It has been minuted in each instance that for offences beyond five years, leniency will be shown. We have gone by the precedence and have hardly used any discretion,” Jain added.
With regards to the investigation option given to trainers, Jain said: “There is nothing wrong in the statement, since everybody is free to get conclusive fresh evidence and if it is convincing, then it can be taken into consideration. It’s part of natural justice and as per the rules, they should be heard. But the evidence need to be the result of an independent investigation without the involvement of the club.”
Khushroo Dhunjibhoy, owner of Shroff-trained Eloise, said: “The substantive evidence presented by Pesi, in my opinion, were mitigating and should not have attracted any penalty. Further, the stewards ought to have had these products independently tested at a laboratory of their choice which was capable of testing the products down to 0.1 nano gram as required under the rules of racing.”
