Greyhound Racing Ireland Strengthens Compliance Powers

Greyhound Racing Ireland Strengthens Compliance Powers

From October 1st 2015, the result of any adverse analytical tests of a greyhound for prohibited substances will be published. In the event of such a result, information relating to the greyhound will also be published and the greyhound immediately banned from racing until a further test is undertaken which yields negative results. The publication of test results will be made on receipt of confirmation of the presence of banned substances, at the same time as notification of the parties involved and ahead of any hearing by the Greyhound Industry’s Control Committee.


The findings of all new cases initiated after October 1st this year and coming before the Control Committee and the Control Appeals Committee which adjudicate on any possible breaches of regulation will be published as will the reasons for their decision.


The changes arise from a period of public consultation within the industry which supported amendments proposed by GRI to change both the Greyhound Industry(Racing) Regulations and the Greyhound Industry (Control Committee and Control Appeal Committee) Regulations.


GRI chairman, Phil Meaney, said: “These are very significant changes which will allow for much greater transparency in the testing regime and severe sanctions against owners/trainers whose dogs test positive for banned substances. There is a strong testing regime at work in Ireland. This will further strengthen it and will be welcomed by all stakeholders in the industry.”


The chief executive of GRI, Geraldine Larkin, welcomed the changes in regulation. “Greyhound Racing Ireland has been advocating these regulatory amendments for some time. We are in favour of mandatory sanctions and openness about testing in our industry. It is essential to not only require compliance but to also have the regulatory muscle to enforce it and to take action against the small minority who would seek to act otherwise.”

 

Note to Editors:

1) GREYHOUND INDUSTRY (RACING) (AMENDMENT) (No. 2) REGULATIONS, 2015;
The effect of these regulations is to amend the Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations, 2007 so as to set down certain procedures to be observed in relation to the sampling of a greyhound for prohibited substances, to provide for the publication of the test result and information relating to the greyhound when the sample is reported to be positive, and to provide that such a greyhound is prohibited from racing until a further test is undertaken with negative results.

Background: The Indecon Report 2014 highlighted the lack of information regarding the publication on adverse analytical findings and this was potentially damaging to the reputation and public perception of the greyhound industry being derived from a level playing field. The Report also emphasised the need for implementation of mandatory penalties such as disqualification of greyhounds from future racing where adverse findings are present in a greyhound. GRI fully supported these recommendations however to achieve such reform, additional legislative provisions on foot of a Public Consultation process would have to take place.

Accordingly in the first phase of the Consultation Process, GRI proposed regulatory amendments to allow for:

- the publication of Adverse Analytical Findings at an earlier stage i.e. at the conclusion of the analytical phase of the anti-doping and medication control process and after notice of results have been sent to the parties involved, prior to any hearing by the Control Committee;

- the disqualification of a greyhound from future racing when it has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding.

2) GREYHOUND INDUSTRY (CONTROL COMMITTEE AND CONTROL APPEAL COMMITTEE) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 2015;

The effect of these regulations is to amend the Greyhound Industry (Control Committee and Control Appeal Committee) Regulations, 2007 so as to require the Control Committee and the Control Appeal Committee, when they make a decision in relation to a matter before them under the Regulations, to publish their findings and their reasons for such findings in relation to the decision.

Background: Article 8(6) of the Greyhound Industry (Control Committee and Control Appeal Committee) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 301 of 2007) the Control Committee shall publish its findings in all decisions in a manner it deems fit and such publication is delayed subject to appeal procedures.

The existing legislation limited the publication of Control Committee decisions to those cases where GRI was successful in its presentation before the Control Committee. For that reason, GRI proposed regulatory amendments by way of the Public Consultation process to allow for greater transparency in case publication by the Control Committee regardless of whether a contravention of the rules has been proven or otherwise.

GRI further confirms that the second phase of the Public Consultation process on Regulatory Reform was launched on the 28th August 2015. The consultation period will close at 5pm on the 25th September 2015. For more information on this Consultation please refer to http://www.grireland.ie/Resource/anti-doping-and-medication-control/press-media/

We wish to re-emphasise the commitment of Greyhound Racing Ireland to ensuring our regulatory system is aligned with International best practice founded on integrity, education and transparency to all our stakeholders.

Greyhound Racing Ireland 
22/09/2015