A greyhound trainer fined £3,000 after two of his dogs tested positive for COCAINE, received a reference from an Irish greyhound trainer and breeder who is helping him "start a new life in Ireland".
A Greyhound Board of Great Britain Disciplinary Committee inquiry held in December heard that "professional trainer Craig Dawson was found in breach of rules 152 (i) and (ii), 174 (i)(b), and 217 of the GBGB Rules of Racing in that a urine sample taken from greyhound Target Chris at Newcastle Stadium on 28 February 2019...and a urine sample taken from the greyhound Pepe Bananas at Newcastle Stadium on 3 April 2019 was analysed by LGC Health Sciences as containing the presence of benzoylecgonine [a metabolite of cocaine], cocaine and m-hydroxycocaine and that he had in his charge a greyhound that showed the presence of a substance that by its nature could affect the performance of a greyhound or prejudice its wellbeing”.
Trainer Craig (AC) Dawson had previously "stated that he used cocaine regularly (but not every night) and had done so since 2013 as he considered it necessary to his mental wellbeing due to his depression and stress".
The Greyhound Board of Great Britain's "Calendar" publication (17 January 2020) includes details of the inquiry. It states: "Professor Morris [Independent scientific adviser] gave evidence that the findings in both cases were consistent with cross-contamination from a regular user of cocaine. He advised that cocaine and benzoylecgonine were stimulants of the nervous system and were substances which by their nature could affect the performance of a greyhound or prejudice its welfare. In both cases, the scientific evidence was that cocaine had passed through the two dogs Target Chris and Pepe Bananas and concentrations reported indicated a window of exposure in the previous 48 hours or less (depending on the dose) before the samples were collected." https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gbgb-prod-assets/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/17123344/Calendar-17-January-2020-Vol12-No1.pdf
The hearing report goes on to say that "the Committee noted the reference dated 16 December 2019 provided by Mr Pat Buckley, a trainer and breeder in Ireland. In this letter, Mr Buckley explained that he had hoped to be at the Inquiry but due to family illness was unable to attend. The Committee noted that Mr Buckley had taken in Mr Dawson in August 2019 on condition that there would be no tolerance of any drug abuse. He stated that Mr Dawson was now drug free and was much more stable mentally and physically. Mr Buckley had applied to the Irish Greyhound Board so that Mr Dawson could handle Mr Buckley’s dogs."
The Committee said that it "considered the abuse of cocaine in greyhound racing as a grave issue", noting that cocaine is a highly restricted Class A Schedule 2 Controlled Drug. The Committee further noted that Dawson "had relinquished his licence, appeared to be currently clear of his addiction and was endeavouring with the help of Mr Buckley to start a new life in Ireland".
The Committee said "it accepted that Mr Dawson had not given cocaine to the dogs to affect their performance, although by his own admission his addiction may have affected his training and preparation of the greyhounds". It was recorded that Dawson "had a previous conviction in 2012 when the greyhound Target Mystery had tested positive for a metabolite of cocaine".
The Disciplinary Committee ordered that on each count Dawson be fined £1,500 (a total of £3,000) and be disqualified indefinitely.
The Irish Greyhound Board website shows that greyhounds owned or trained by Dawon have been raced over the past two decades in Shelbourne Park, Curraheen Park, Mullingar, Youghal, Newbridge, Limerick, Thurles, Enniscorthy, Longford, Galway, Kilkenny, Clonmel and Lifford.
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A greyhound trainer who provided a statement of support for a man who participated in cruel live animal baiting has been named this year's Irish Greyhound Review PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/posts/1935220319926850