Suspended Divirgilio Declares His Innocence

IN the absence of all the facts, greyhound racing finds itself embroiled in another live baiting controversy.

Four years on from the damning 4 Corners expose "Making A Killing", the integrity unit of Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) announced on Monday that it had suspended three trainers, understood to be closely linked, with immediate effect.

GRV's Integrity Unit General Manager Shane Gillard said that he was unable to provide details while investigations continue.

"The three trainers have been stood down pending the issuing of charges," Gillard said.

"The suspended trainers cannot enter any greyhound property or greyhound club."

For the past fortnight, rumours have been circulating that a raid on a property in late October discovered caged possums in the vicinity of the training operations.

And while GRV elected to suppress the names of the three suspended participants, in an interview with the ABC on Wednesday, Devon Meadows trainer Rinaldo Divirgilio confirmed he was one of the three trainers suspended.

The veteran trainer asserted he was the victim of a “set up” and that a third party had left live possums at his property without his knowledge.

“I didn't do anything. I just received something. It [the possums] got dropped off here for someone else,” he told the ABC.

It is understood that Greyhound Racing Victoria had confiscated Divirgilio phone for three days.

He went on to assert that his son Ben – a committee member of the Traralgon Greyhound Racing Club – also understood to be suspended, had nothing to do with it.

On Wednesday morning, Greyhound Racing Victoria CEO Alan Clayton remained staunch in his defence of the industry, declaring that the culture in the sport had shifted significantly from when he arrived.

"We are now a capable body, capable of regulating the industry. We have been to 100 percent of the properties and the culture in the industry has changed dramatically from when I started,” Clayton told ABC radio on Wednesday.

"We have suspended three (trainers) – we've actually found those people who we think have been doing the wrong thing and we are in the process of investigating the matter.

"Most greyhound trainers are actually doing the right thing and they're using synthetic lures."

Clayton said the next step of the process will be to put all the evidence together before charges are laid.

"We haven't laid charges yet. They are suspended. The next step is to put together what we've found and basically chase this matter down to its fullest extent," Clayton added.

"We found the matter using our intel capability – we've got a combination of intel, analysts, covert, and we use all of that and more in the context of the work that we do.

"We've promoted an ethical industry, we've increased our capability integrity and animal welfare. We have worked really hard at the welfare of the dog."