Trainer Darren Smith has been handed a 15-year ban from the sport after being found by Racing NSW to have been involved in cobalt doping.
Smith was found guilty of more than 40 charges, all relating to horses from his stable being found with high levels of cobalt in their system. 16 samples taken from 13 horses he trained were found to be over the threshold.
The Newcastle trainer’s ban has been backdated to May 30, 2014, but rules him out until 2029.
According to Sky Racing journalist Andrew Bensley, Smith has already lodged an appeal to Racing NSW Appeals Tribunal.
The currently national threshold for cobalt, 200mcg/L was introduced this year, and was introduced by Racing Victoria in a local rule on April 14, 2014.
Smith argued the lack of a national threshold for the performance booster until this time rendered the case invalid. He has appealed the verdict.
The trainer has admitted to injecting substances into horses which he understood to be a blood booster.
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