The Referrals Committee, Justice Tony Hunt (in the Chair), Mr. Philip Caffrey and Mr. Laurence McFerran met at the Croke Park Hotel, Jones’s Road, Dublin 3 on Thursday, 25th October 2018 to consider a report from IMIM Hospitaldelmar in Barcelona, Spain, that samples of urine taken from Christopher David Timmons, Rider, during in-competition testing at Ballinrobe Racecourse, Co. Mayo on 28th May 2018 were found to contain Benzoylecgonine (metabolite of cocaine).
Under the Rules of Racing and Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Rules, cocaine is a banned substance because it acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system with addictive and hallucinogenic properties and is prohibited in-competition pursuant to the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List International Standard as adopted by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. Mr. Timmons asked for the B sample to be analysed and the result of the analysis carried out on 19th July 2018 confirmed the A sample findings.
Evidence and submissions were heard from Dr. Adrian McGoldrick, Senior Turf Club Medical Officer and Mr. Timmons.
In his evidence Dr. McGoldrick outlined the circumstances leading to the adverse analytical finding as advised to him by Mr. Timmons and steps that had been taken in the period since Mr. Timmons had been advised of same. In his evidence Mr. Timmons accepted the adverse analytical finding and stated that he regretted his actions which had led to it. He advised of steps he had taken to address certain issues and stated that he wished to return to race riding in the future. He confirmed that he had last ridden on the 13th June 2018.
Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee accepted the guilty plea and confirmed the breach of Rule 277(i).
In arriving at the penalty, the Referrals Committee considered the specific individual circumstances of the case and noted that Mr. Timmons had not ridden since 13th June 2018. They decided to impose a four (4) year suspension of his licence backdated to commence on 14th June 2018.
They also agreed that they would consider an application from Mr. Timmons for his licence to be reinstated after he has served a period of 12 months suspension provided he cooperates fully with any requests made by the Senior IHRB Medical Officer and engaged positively with a recommended program.
The case was presented by Cliodhna Guy, Head of Licensing, Legal, & Compliance.