A racehorse tested positive for cocaine and other drugs after it won a race last month.
Six-year-old mare Halina Jibay was found with cocaine in its body when it outperformed nine other horses on the Marsa racecourse on October 1, tests carried out in a French doping laboratory revealed.
In a decision issued by the Malta Racing Club this week, the mare’s owner was suspended from all races for two years and fined €350.
A doping test result issued by the Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques and seen by Times of Malta confirms a urine sample taken from the horse on the day of the race contained cocaine, stanozolol (a synthetic steroid), ketamine (a form of tranquilliser), and methamphetamine (a stimulating drug), among other similar substances.
At least two of the substances – including cocaine – constitute among the most serious rule breaks according to the Malta Racing Club’s regulations, and the rules state such cases must also be reported to the police since the possession of these substances is illegal.
The Malta Racing Club last night said the horse owner was given until today to contest the findings and present a counter-analysis.
Should the owner not contest the findings, then the case will be reported to the police.
Sean Hocking
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