The Mauritius Turf Club confirms that the inquiry de novo, which commenced on 6 December 2019, regarding the presence of human recombinant erythropoietin detected in a non-race day blood sample taken from the horse League Of Legends (Trained by Chandradutt Daby) at Port Louis on 14 June 2018 was concluded at The Mauritius Turf Club via video conference on 13 May 2020.
Trainer Daby was charged under the Mauritius Turf Club rules of racing for a contravention of rule 208A(5).
The particulars of the charge were as follows:
In that as a licenced trainer, and the trainer of a horse under his care and charge, namely League Of Legends, who had been entered as a runner for the race meeting 16 June 2018, after a non-raceday sample of blood was taken from the horse on the 14 June 2018 at 17h55 at the Champ de Mars, upon analysis contained Human Recombinate Erythropoietine, which in terms of the rules of the Mauritius Turf Club is an illicit substance.
Trainer Daby pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Inquiry Board found Trainer Daby guilty as charged.
The Inquiry Board, after careful deliberation and taking into account Mr Daby’s mitigating factors that he put forward, as well as his clean record, was of the view that with the prevailing conditions of the horse racing industry in Mauritius due to the Covid-19 pandemic coupled with the long period of time that has passed are serious factors that operate in favour of the Trainer for the non-application of the mandatory 12 month suspension and that a fine would meet the ends of justice in the particular circumstances of the matter.
The Board waived the required 12-month disqualification and ruled in favour of a penalty of a fine of Rs 150, 000 – the approximate equivalent of R70 000.
Trainer Daby has the right of appeal against the finding and penalty imposed.
- Mauritius Turf Club
