One of Mauritius Racing’s most succesful trainers of all time has been found guilty in two prohibited substance matters and been suspended for a year and fined Rs 100 000.
Gilbert Rousset was handed a 12-month disqualification on Monday for the Maxamore case, while he was fined Rs 100 000 (about R40 000) for the Aspara matter.
The Mauritius Turf Club (MTC) Racing Stewards found that stanozolol and 16 beta-hydroxy stanozolol had been detected in the post-race blood and urine samples taken from MAXAMORE and ASPARA after winning on the 12 and 26 May 2018 respectively.
Rousset was charged on two counts as follows:
- Pursuant to Rule 208 (5) for being the trainer of MAXAMORE when that gelding raced on 12 May 2018 and won Race 2, “The Le Prix Pierre Hugnin” (990 metres) with stanozolol and 16-beta-hydroxystanozolol being detected in the post-race urine and blood samples taken from that gelding.
- Pursuant to Rule 208 (5) for being the trainer of ASPARA when that gelding raced on 26 May 2018 and won Race 2, “The Pets Concern-Treating Your Pet As A Family Cup” (1500 metres) with stanozolol and 16-beta-hydroxystanozolol being detected in the post-race urine and blood samples taken from that gelding.
He pleaded not guilty to both charges.
A former MTC licensed groom of ASPARA, Lavish Lalleebeeharry gave evidence and pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 209 (s) (ii) for administering an illicit substance, namely stanozolol to ASPARA on or about Monday 21 May 2018.
Mr. Lalleebeeharry was “warned off” indefinitely.
Regarding the charge concerning MAXAMORE, the Racing Stewards held that Mr. Rousset had not taken all reasonable and permissible measures to prevent the administration of the illicit substance stanozolol to MAXAMORE and consequently found Mr. Rousset guilty as charged.
Regarding the charge concerning ASPARA, even though the former groom, Mr. Lavish Lalleebeeharry, had confessed to administering ASPARA with the illicit substance stanozolol, the Racing Stewards held that Mr. Rousset could not be absolved under the Rules of Racing and had not taken all reasonable and permissible measures to prevent the administration of the illicit substance stanozolol to ASPARA and consequently found Mr. Rousset guilty as charged.
A trainer for over 30 years, Gilbert Rousset successfully defended his crown in 2017, 30 years after winning his first championship when trainer for the Hugues Maigrot stable.
His major winners include Great Gusto (1987), Mr Brock (2008) and Disa Leader (2010), all Horses Of The Year.
He boasts the most wins of any trainer at Champ de Mars, and he managed to score his 800th win on Maiden Cup day last September.
He was Mauritius champion trainer in 1987, 2009-11, 2013, 2016 and 2017.
Legal counsel for Rousset has indicated that he will appeal both matters.
