Study Commissioned After Positive Swab Revelation

THE Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission (GWIC) will commission a study to ensure participants are provided with “clarity and certainty” with regard to the use of Primulot N following the finalisation of an inquiry this week into star race bitch French Martini.

Last week, GWIC Stewards commenced an inquiry to investigate how French Martini, one of the sport's most high profile greyhounds, returned three positive urine samples to prohibited substance Ethynylestradiol last September and October. 

STEWARDS' DECISION HERE

The positive samples were returned across three consecutive weeks of racing in the Million Dollar Chase Final before successfully contesting the two week Group 2 Black Top series at The Gardens.    

Winner of 14 races, French Martini had been swabbed no less than 28 times during her career, with the only irregularity being returned during this block of racing.

At a hearing into the matter, evidence was tendered by French Martini's trainer Peter Lagogiane, highly respected Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Chris Papantonio and Scientific Manager for Racing Analytical Services Dr. Adam Cawley.

In his evidence, Lagogiane told Stewards that the substance Primulot N had been prescribed by his veterinary surgeon Dr. Chris Papantonio to French Martini for the sole purpose of regulating or preventing oestrus in the greyhound.

Dr. Papantonio confirmed that evidence, telling Stewards that the active ingredient in Primolut N is Norethisterone, an exempted substance pursuant to GR138 of the Rules when prescribed by a veterinary surgeon for oral administration to a female greyhound and when for the sole purpose of regulating or preventing oestrus in a female greyhound. 

Pivotally however, it was evidence tendered by Dr. Adam Cawley to the inquiry that proved most compelling, advising that a human study of Primulot N had revealed that the active ingredient Norethisterone had been shown to metabolise to Ethynylestradiol in human females.

Having regard to this study, Dr. Cawley advised Stewards that it was possible that the same metabolic conversion could occur in female greyhounds. 

Dr. Cawley further informed Stewards that the prescribed oral dosage of Primulot N was consistent with the analytical findings, and that of the study to which he referred within his evidence. 

Given the information tendered, GWIC Stewards determined not to take any further action, meaning French Martini will retain the Group 2 Black Top and The Gardens track record (28.96) she established in the heats.

Given the complexity of the issue moving forward, Chief Steward Wade Birch said the matter has been stamped urgent, with GWIC to begin work immediately to safeguard participants.

"We've referred the matter to GWIC Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Tony Kuipers with the purpose of conducting a body of work to ensure participants have clarity and certainty with regard to the use of Primulot N," Birch said.

"With the information we had put before us we believed that to be the best course of action to begin steps towards getting some clarity for trainers.

"As soon as more information is available we'll be sure to make it accessible to participants."