The Referrals Committee, Dr. Gordon A. Holmes (in the Chair), John G. Moloney and Mrs. J.O. Onions met in the Stewards Room, Punchestown Racecourse, Co. Kildare on 22nd April 2010 to consider a report from IMIM Hospitaldelmar in Barcelona, Spain regarding the fact that a sample of urine taken from A.B. Joyce, rider, during in-competition testing on 24th January 2010 at Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin 18 was found to contain Furosemide and Amiloride.  Under the Rules of Racing and Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Rules they are banned substances because they are diuretics which act on the kidneys and inhibit the reabsorbsion of water and have a diuretic effect.  Furosemide and Amiloride are prohibited in-competition pursuant to the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List International Standard as adopted by the Turf Club.  A.B. Joyce through his solicitors, Coonan Cawley, accepted the findings of the ‘A’ sample and did not request the ‘B’ sample to be tested.

Evidence was heard from Dr. Adrian McGoldrick, Senior Turf Club Medical Officer and A.B. Joyce.

In his evidence Dr. McGoldrick stated that Furosemide and Amiloride were very potent diuretics which are used amongst other things for rapid weight loss.  He said that they were not performance enhancing but do lead to side effects such as acute dehydration.

A.B. Joyce accepted that he took diuretic pills on the morning in question to reduce weight so as to make a low weight for one of his rides at Leopardstown.  He stated he had weight problems which were made worse by a series of injuries that he sustained in recent times which he outlined to the committee.  He said that he now has his weight under control as a result of riding out and going to the gym on a regular basis.  He also said that he would not take rides in future which were outside his normal weight range.

Having considered the evidence the Committee found A.B. Joyce in breach of Rule 277(i) and fined him €250.  They also ordered that he pay costs of €250.  In arriving at the level of the fine the Committee took into account Mr. Joyce’s unfortunate record of injuries and the way he met the case.  They said but for this the fine would have been considerably higher.

The case was presented by Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Turf Club, The Curragh, Co. Kildare and A.B. Joyce was represented by Andrew Coonan, Coonan Cawley Solicitors, Naas, Co. Kildare.