Australia's doping scandal "has deepened with the news that two more leading trainers have had horses test positive for the outlawed blood doping drug cobalt chloride," according to the PA. Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Mark Kavanagh and fellow Flemington handler Danny O’Brien, who has had three horses test positive, "will have to face the Victoria Racing stewards after the findings." On Tuesday, Peter Moody, who trained the "legendary sprint mare Black Caviar," had Lidari return a "positive swab over the specified threshold for cobalt chloride." Kavanagh: "This has come as a complete shock to me. We are, unfortunately, not the only stable in this situation. I am cooperating fully with the Racing Victoria Integrity Services Department" (PA, 1/14). In Sydney, Brendan Cormick reported Cobalt, like EPO, "can assist in helping produce more red blood cells to
carry oxygen through a human or equine bloodstream -- allowing longer
athletic performance without the onset of fatigue." Stewards began testing last year after "receiving intelligence that cobalt had infiltrated the thoroughbred industry after a raft of positives came to light in harness-racing circles." Cobalt usage had been "prevalent in North American harness racing and thoroughbred racing" and it has also been connected with professional cycling (THE AUSTRALIAN, 1/15). Also in Sydney, Patrick Bartley reported the "groundwork for the dramatic events" began in April last year. That was when Racing Victoria stewards invoked a "threshold level for the drug that would trigger serious charges if breached." RVL stewards have taken a "range of tests across the three trainers' stables." These are currently being analyzed to see if there could be "mitigating circumstances for the positive tests." After analysis, stewards and lawyers will "decide on the make-up of any charges to be laid against the trainers" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 1/14).
INTO THE PUBLIC SPHERE: Also in Sydney, Chris Roots reported veterinary sources said that the vitamin supplements are "widely used within racing stables," a statement with which Australian Racing Board CEO Peter McGauran agreed. However, McGauran said the information in the release "was intended to outline to trainers exactly what was acceptable." McGauran: "We have known about the use of cobalt for some time and had intelligence about its use within stables -- that it was common and widespread. That it was coming from different channels." RVL Chief Steward Terry Bailey said the investigation "would not be rushed." Bailey said, "We will not be putting a timeline on the completion of this process and will not be commenting on the specifics of each case whilst our investigations continue" (SMH, 1/14). THE ADVERTISER's Tom Biddington reported Thoroughbred Racing SA Chairman of Stewards Johan Petzer admitted he is "now anxious about getting the first batch of results from cobalt testing in this state." It takes a few months for the cobalt tests "to be completed and Petzer is yet to receive the results from the first set." Petzer said, "I would think (I'll be more anxious opening the results from the first batch of tests), more so now that there's three that's been announced (in Victoria)." Petzer revealed that his integrity team had "already done preliminary testing." He added, "On what I've seen on our results, it doesn't appear to be an issue but it would be naive to believe it can't be in our system" (THE ADVERTISER, 1/14).
