6th RACE (48) THE CALCUTTA JUVENILE SPRINT – For Horses 3 years old only (About) 1100 Metres (4.30/4.38) : 8 runners

ORDER OF THE STEWARDS

The Stewards of the Royal Calcutta Turf Club assembled on Saturday, 4th November, 2017 in the Stewards Enquiry Room, Reserve Stand, Calcutta Race Course to hold an enquiry into the positive findings of PROCAINE, a prohibited substance in the urine sample of b c FORTUNE EXPRESS, owned & trained by Mr. Manvendra Singh following its run on 16.08.2017 in The Calcutta Juvenile Sprint (Race No 48).

The Stewards interviewed Trainer Mr. Manvendra Singh and perused his enquiry report and the proceedings of enquiries conducted by the Stipendiary Stewards.

The Stewards noted that Mr. Manvendra Singh was the Owner and Trainer in-charge of b c FORTUNE EXPRESS on 16.8.2017 when the race was run.

The Stewards noted that PROCAINE was categorized as a Class III prohibited substance.

The Stewards noted the Note of the Veterinary Officer that the route of administration of the drug PROCAINE in question could be through injection/powder.

The Stewards noted that the urine of the colt FORTUNE EXPRESS had been reported positive for PROCAINE by The National Dope Testing Laboratory, New Delhi vide their report dated 7.9.2017 after its participation in Race No. 48 run on 16.08.2017.

The Stewards noted that at the request of trainer Mr. Manvendra Singh a ‘B’ sample was tested and returned positive for PROCAINE from The Laboratory of Federation National Des Courses Francaise, France.

The Stewards noted the Trainer’s written statemtnat that due to the wet conditions of the track the colt was getting bruises on the cornet and the bulb areas on both fore during morning track work and that the Trainer had ordered his Jemadar to dress up the affected area by using tincture iodine and Neosporin powder. He had also ordered his Jemadar to apply a homeopathic ointment namely Calendula on the affected area. However, the use of above was stopped 10 days prior to its run on 16.8.2017.

The Stewards noted the trainer’s written submission that the drug might have “purposely” been administered by someone without his or his Jemadar’s knowledge to malign his reputation. However, the Trainer could not substantiate his submission with any documentary evidence or otherwise, as such, the Stewards gave no credence to this submission.

The Stewards noted that no fresh evidence was placed before them by Mr. Manvendra Singh other that that what he had stated in his written submission and during the Stipendiary Stewards enquiry.

The Stewards noted that this was the first case of infringement of the medication rules by a horse under the charge of trainer Mr. Manvendra Singh.

The Stewards noted that the drug PROCAINE is classified as a Class III drug under the Medication Rules of the RCTC. As per the Calendar Notification the penalty for infringement of a Class III drug attracts :-

a) 1 month to one year suspension/withdrawal of Trainer’s license and a fine of Rs. 15,000/- to the Trainer and disqualification of the horse.

The horse had been disqualified by the Stewards Orders dated 3.10.2017.

The Stewards were of the opinion that the statements of the trainer in no way invalidated the positive test report, therefore, Mr. Manvendra Singh be held responsible for the violation of the medication rules and found him guilty under Rule 114(b)(i) of the RCTC Rules of Racing – If his conduct or negligence or neglect in the performance of his duties as a licenced professional has led or could have led to a breach of the Rules of Racing, in that b c FORTUNE EXPRESS under his charge had infringed the medication rules (Calendar Notification under the heading “Medication and treatment of horses in training and racing and anti-doping control” which reads as “no horse shall, after being declared to start, show the presence in its tissues, body fluids or excreta, any quantity of any substance which is a prohibited substance. Prohibited substance means a substance originating externally whether or not it is endogenous to the horse. A finding of a prohibited substance means a finding of the substance itself or a metabolite of the substance or an isomer of the substance or an isomer of a metabolite. The finding of any scientific indicator of administration or other exposure to a prohibited substance is also equivalent to the finding of the substance. The effect/efficacy of the prohibited substance on the performance of the horse is irrelevant to the implementation of these Rules”. Further, “The trainer shall always be responsible for : the feeding, management, protection and security of the horses in his care taking all reasonable precautions with the horses in his care to avoid their exposure to prohibited substances.

When deciding on the quantum of punishment to the trainer, the Stewards took into consideration the trainer’s record and decided to suspend Mr. Manvendra Singh from 5th November to 4th December, 2017 (both days inclusive) and fine him a sum of Rs. 15,000/- . Trainer Mr. Manvendra Singh was informed of his right to appeal.