Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) Steward's concluded an Inquiry today into a report received from the Australian Government National Measurement Institute that cobalt above the threshold was detected in a post race urine sample taken from Tiny Tinker following its win in race 4, the TROTS TV LADYSHIP PACE (2030 metres) conducted at Newcastle on 19 March 2015.
The "B" sample and associated control sample were confirmed by the ChemCentre in Western Australia.
Mr Carroll pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to Australian Harness Racing Rule 190 (1), (2) and (4) in that he did present Tiny Tinker to race at Newcastle on 19 March 2015, not free of a prohibited substance.
Mr Carroll was disqualified for a period of 7 years in respect of the charge under Rule 190 (1), (2) & (4) to commence from 19 May 2015, the date upon which he was stood down.
In considering penalty Stewards were mindful of the following;
* This was Mr Carroll's 2nd offence for Rule 190 breaches,
* That Cobalt is deemed a Class 1 substance under the HRNSW Penalty Guidelines,
* The level recorded being 290 ug/L
* Mr Carroll's guilty plea, licence history and other personal subjective facts.
Mr. Carroll was informed of his right to appeal this decision
Acting under the provisions of Rule 195, Tiny Tinker was disqualified from the abovementioned race.
Reid Sanders