EPO Case in Racing Underway

Australia's first thoroughbred EPO case is currently underway despite legal counsel for co-trainers Bevan and Richard Laming, arguing that procedures weren't carried out according to racing rules.

Dr Cliff Pannam QC, representing the Lamings, argued that the Racing Analytical Services Ltd (RASL) testing of samples taken from their horses War Dancer and Benelli were only a preliminary or screening test rather than an official detection of a prohibited substance.

The test used by RASL is known as ELISA.

Both horses tested positive to a synthetic form of EPO during the winter of 2009.

The positive EPO swabs were confirmed by an independent analysis by the UK Horseracing Forensic Laboratory Sports Science.

The presence of EPO was also confirmed in samples tested by a racing laboratory in Hong Kong.

But Dr Pannam said samples should have been sent from the London laboratory to Hong Kong for a confirmatory analysis and vice versa rather than back to RASL.

After a long deliberation the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board, chaired by Judge Russell Lewis, said the case would continue as there was no breach of racing rules regarding testing procedures.

Dr Cornelius Uboh, a world renowned authority on the testing for EPO in horses, will give evidence by teleconference in support of the Laming case.

Story & photo: aap

What is EPO?
EPO, short for Erythroprotein, is a synthetic hormone that increases red blood cell production.

Originally designed for use in humans suffering from anemia, usually due to kidney failure, improper use of EPO can lead to death. However, due to its function of increasing red blood cell mass and the fact that more red cells means more oxygen in the blood, it enables athletes to undergo longer, harder workouts.

EPO has been used as an aid to increase stamina and performance in human athletes and is referred to as 'blood doping'. 2010 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, has been tested positive and provisionally suspended by the UCI.

EPO has also found harness racing in Australia and is a prohibited substance under the rules of racing. It is also recorded on the [URL="http://prohibitedsubstancesdatabase.feicleansport.org/product.php?id=421"]FEI's Clean Sport Prohibited List[/URL].