The Referrals Committee, Justice Tony Hunt (in the Chair), Justice Leonie Reynolds and Laurence McFerran met at the Croke Park Hotel, Jones Road, Dublin 3 on Thursday, 30th November 2017 to consider a report from IMIM Hospitaldelmar in Barcelona, Spain, that samples of urine taken from Roger Quinlan, Rider, during in-competition testing at Galway Racecourse, Co. Galway on 10th October 2017 was 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 Turf Club.
As Roger Quinlan neither accepted the results of the analysis of the A samples nor requested that his B samples be analysed within fourteen days of the date of being notified, he was deemed to have accepted the results of the analysis of the A samples.
Evidence was heard from Dr Adrian McGoldrick, Senior Turf Club Medical Officer, Roger Quinlan and William Slattery, brother of Mr. Quinlan’s employer, Andrew Slattery.
At the outset, Kevin Power stated that Roger Quinlan was not contesting the findings and accepted that he was in breach of Rule 277(i).
In arriving at penalty, the Referrals Committee took into account a number of mitigating factors which were specific to this case. They imposed a penalty of a two year suspension of Roger Quinlan’s licence. However, they ordered that 21 months of the penalty be suspended provided Roger Quinlan does not breach the same rule again during the period of suspension. In the event that there is a rule breach, they ordered that the suspended portion of this penalty be activated as well as any penalty which may apply for the new rule breach. They also ordered that Roger Quinlan cooperate with any requests from Dr. McGoldrick during his period of suspension which expires on 1st March 2018.
The case was presented by Cliodhna Guy, Solicitor, Head of Licensing, Legal and Compliance, Roger Quinlan was represented by Kevin Power, Maurice Power, Solicitors, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick.
After this hearing concluded the Referrals Committee issued the following statement:
“We can't have another night like tonight where we had to deal with the referral of three riders, out of the eight riders that were randomly tested, who tested positive for banned substances on the same day. This represents in the region of 10% of the number of jockeys who rode at the meeting in question. This is unacceptable for racing. To date we have tried to impose punishments with an encouragement to undertake rehabilitation. This has worked in individual cases but it is clear that the deterrent effect of the penalties imposed to date is not enough. We are asking Denis Egan, in his capacity as Chief Executive of the Turf Club to write to all the representative bodies to say that in future the starting point for penalties for similar offences will be a four year ban plus whatever follows. There will be no coming back in six months except in very exceptional circumstances. What is currently happening cannot continue.
There is support available for any rider who needs it and they can contact the Senior Turf Club Medical Officer, Dr. Adrian McGoldrick in the strictest of confidence if they need help and we would strongly encourage them to do so”.