Comer to begin suspension in July after appeal fails

Trainer Luke Comer will begin a three-year suspension by the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board next month following the largely unsuccessful outcome of an appeal against punishments relating to doping in horse racing.

A total of 12 of his horses were found to have failed drug tests following an inspection in November 2021.

The case relates to horses He Knows No Fear, Old Tom Higgins, Boxing Hero, Grand D’espagne, Aircraft Carrier, Powerful Don, Wee Jim, Great Moon, Our Man Flint, Questionare, Green Force and Blyton which all failed tests for an anabolic steroid.

In the original ruling, the referrals committee of the IHRB did not find direct evidence of deliberate doping, but found Comer responsible for serious rule breaches in the absence of any other plausible explanation for the adverse findings.

Comer admitted that traces of prohibited substances were found to be present in the horses, but he categorically denies that either he or any of his staff were involved in doping the animals.

Comer suggested “environmental contamination” could be to blame, pointing to the possibility of contaminated hay, but the committee found evidence on that idea “difficult” to evaluate while the handler also conceded “an employee could have accidentally caused contamination” or a “disgruntled employee could have interfered with the horses”.

He Knows No Fear failed a drug test following a race in Leopardstown on 16 October 2021, with the same horse and the 11 others stated tested in an unannounced inspection on 10 November 2021.

He brought the case to the Appeals Body of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board

Comer’s appeal was largely dismissed and ruled his fine must be paid on or before 15 July 2024.

The withdrawal of his trainer’s licence will also take effect from the same date.

The appeals body withdrew a punishment in relation to maintaining the good reputation of horse racing but did not dismiss its finding.

Comer’s appeal in respect of the breach of Rule 272 (ii) that he had given misleading evidence to the Referrals Committee was upheld on the grounds of procedural fairness and the €5,000 fine imposed was set aside.

The appeals committee also dismissed the finding that Comer’s stables had poor security.

The IHRB counter-appeal of undue leniency regarding the penalties was also dismissed.

The 80% costs order in favour of the IHRB was maintained and ordered Comer to pay 75% of the costs of the appeal to the IHRB.