The owner of a greyhound who said he “made no apology for his actions” after the dog tested positive for a prohibited substance, has been fined just €250 by Greyhound Racing Ireland.

Ibuprofen was found in the greyhound named “Brexit Polka” after he was tested at Tralee stadium on 6th November 2021. On the day, the dog finished fourth in the “RCETS Traceability App Stakes Round 1” race.

The latest Greyhound Racing Ireland Control Committee report (May 2022), outlines that the greyhound’s registered owner John O'Connell of Coolaclarig, Listowel, County Kerry stated that he “administered pain relief medication to the greyhound” and that “he further stated that he made no apology for his actions in relation to this matter”.

Two weeks after being tested, the greyhound was used in a race at the same track and finished last.

Between 26 May 2018 and 20 November 2021, Brexit Polka was entered into 88 races, with total prize money of €6,445.

He is among a growing list of greyhounds testing positive for prohibited substances around Ireland. Previous Greyhound Racing Ireland “Adverse Analytical Findings” reports show that…

- On 21st December 2021, Meloxicam was detected in 2-year-old greyhound Ardfert Pope, whose owners are listed as Adrian Clifford and John Paul Leen. On that date, the greyhound finished third in a race at Tralee track.

- On 9th December 2021, Sildenafil was detected in 2-year-old greyhound “On The Lake” at Limerick stadium. The dog, whose registered owner was listed as John Ryan, finished second in a race on the night, with winnings of €65. The greyhound was raced once more at Limerick Stadium on 10 January 2022 before being exported to the UK.

– Ibuprofen was found in Tullig Puma (registered owner: Patrick Condon) who finished second in the “SIS Racing at Limerick A5/A6 525” race at Limerick stadium on 11th November 2021.

– Ibuprofen was found in greyhound “Brexit Polka” (registered owner: John O’Connell) at Tralee track on 6th November 2021. The dog finished fourth in the “RCETS Traceability App Stakes Round 1” race.

– Carprofen was detected in 2-year-old greyhound “Generous Angel” at Shelbourne Park stadium on 9th October 2021.

- Guaifenesin was detected in greyhound Glentara Kid at Thurles Greyhound Stadium on 25 September 2021. On the day, the dog was listed as “Lot 56” in a greyhound sale auction at the track but was not sold.

- Oxazepam was detected in greyhound Colmyard Pulse (registered owner listed as Michael Collins) at Thurles track on 7th August 2021. Colmyard Pulse was “slow away” in the race at Thurles track and finished third, with winnings of €40. He was raced again at Thurles a week later when he finished last.

– Codeine and Acetaminophen were found in two greyhounds in Wexford on 7 July 2021. The prohibited substances were detected in samples taken from 2-year-old greyhound “Romantic Raja” (registered owner: Myles-Family-Syndicate) and 15-month-old “One for George” (registered owner: Mrs Deirdre Myles and Mr Mark Mulholland) at an unspecified location in Wexford. Commenting on this finding, greyhound campaign group CAGED Nationwide stated: “Codeine and Acetaminophen – both drugs can result in horrific side effects and can prove fatal when given to dogs. Greyhounds can be particularly susceptible to side effects or fatality due to their physiology.”

– Amphetamine was found in greyhound Boher Recruit at Tralee track on 22 January 2021.

– 6α‐hydroxystanozolol was detected in a greyhound Gut Feeling (owned by a Mr Laurence Jones) who finished last in a “Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby Round 1” race at Shelbourne Park on August 15th 2020.

– On September 5th at Shelbourne Park, 6α‐hydroxystanozolol was detected in greyhound, Duck And Dive, who finished third in the “Talking Dogs Open 550” race. According to the adverse analytical finding report, this dog is co-owned by Laurence Jones.

– In September 2020, prohibited substance Acetaminophen was detected in greyhound Pentire at Enniscorthy track. He finished second in the “Try a Trio Bet 600” race and hasn’t been seen at a track since.

– Frusemide was detected in greyhound Suirview Emma at a trial on 9th June 2020 at Waterford stadium.

– Firocoxib was found in a urine sample from greyhound Colarhouse Super at Dundalk Stadium on 1st February 2020.

– Carprofen was detected in greyhound Looney Mctoe at Shelbourne Park on 19 November 2019. On the night, the 2-year-old dog finished third in the “Barking Buzz A6/A7 525 Semi-Final” race.

– The hydrolysis of a human medication “with performance enhancing effects when administered to a racing greyhound” was found in a urine sample taken from greyhound Rising Flash at Dundalk Stadium on 25th October 2019. On the night, the greyhound finished last in the “Last Chance To Back A Winner A3 525” race.

– The hydrolysis product of Naftldrofuryl was found in a urine sample taken from greyhound Fionn Caoimhin at Shelbourne Park Stadium on 22nd October 2019.

– Propranolol – a “serious substance that has the potential to slow a greyhound down” was found in greyhound Yesterdays News who finished last in the “Tote Trio Pool 525” race at Tralee Greyhound Stadium on the 22nd September, 2019.

– The active ingredient in Viagra was detected in a greyhound at Limerick stadium during the summer. Sildenafil, was found in greyhound Makingtherunning according to the Irish Greyhound Board’s November 2019 “Adverse Analytical Findings” report. The detection was made at Limerick stadium on 24th August 2019 after the greyhound finished third in the “Bet Into Shelbourne Park S7 Lower 350” race. https://youtu.be/tuRD_iQ4CFw

– Naproxen was detected in a sample taken from greyhound Grahams Star at Galway Stadium on 31st July 2019. The greyhound finished last in the “GAIN INTERTRACK CHALLENGE ROUND 6″ – one of a series of races sponsored by Glanbia’s GAIN brand.

– Ibuprofen was also found in a sample taken from greyhound Cricket Field at Dundalk stadium on 12th July 2019. The greyhound finished last in the “Fanfruit Ltd Open 600” race. The owner was fined just €200.

– Amphetamine was found in a urine sample taken from greyhound Night Time Mammy at Newbridge track on 31 May 2019. The GRI website shows that the greyhound finished first in the “Troy Electrical & NTSC Tri Distance A3/4 Final” race, with winnings of €1,600. Appearing before the Control Committee, the greyhound’s owner, Donal Brennan, “stated at the outset that he was taking full responsibility for the adverse analytical finding”. He was fined just €500.

– Acepromazine was found in a sample taken from greyhound Confey Bay at Mullingar stadium on 16th February 2019. The greyhound was “an extremely nervous and ‘hyperactive’ greyhound” and a tablet, containing the prohibited substance, was given to the greyhound “to calm her down”. The owner/trainer was fined just €300 and the €50 prize money was forfeited.

– Acetaminophen and Codeine were found in a sample taken from greyhound Our Ellas Prince at Shelbourne Park stadium on 25th June 2019. “The Control Committee noted that [owner] Mr Houston stated in his evidence that he had administered Paracetamol tablets to the greyhound as pain relief medication. He was unaware at the time that Paracetamol was a prohibited substance…The Control Committee accepted the explanation tendered by Mr Houston and the Committee was satisfied Mr Houston did not administer the medication to the greyhound to enhance the greyhounds [sic] performance. Having taken all the circumstances into consideration, including the excellent level of co-operation received from Mr Houston, the Control Committee decided not to impose a fine on Mr Houston. The prize money of €255 won by the greyhound Our Ellas Prince in the event in question is forfeited.”

– Ibuprofen was found in a sample taken from greyhound Slippy Ned at Tralee stadium on 29th March 2019. The owner was fined just €200 and the €200 prize money was forfeited.

– Ibuprofen – “a therapeutic human medication which is not licensed for canine veterinary use” – was found in a sample taken from greyhound Finnery Loch at Lifford stadium on 16th March 2019. The owner, from whom there was a “lack of co-operation” was fined just €300

– Ibuprofen was found in a sample taken from greyhound Beaming Rainbow at Dundalk stadium on 16th March 2019. The owner was fined just €200 and “the prize money of €50 won by the greyhound Beaming Rainbow in the event in question is forfeited”.

– Ibuprofen was found in a sample taken from greyhound Some Ginger at Dundalk stadium on 8th February 2019. According to owner Adrian Markey, “the greyhound was being treated for a muscle injury with Ibuprofen Gel the week before the race. On changing the greyhound’s bedding the week after the race, Mr Markey said he found a tube of Ibuprofen Gel that the greyhound had chewed on unknown to Mr Markey”. The owner was fined just €200.

Read the Adverse Analytical Findings reports at
https://www.grireland.ie/Resource/adverse-analytical-findings/

ACTION ALERT

Don’t go greyhound racing.

STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING

Join us in demanding an end to the government’s massive grants that are keeping cruel greyhound racing afloat. Greyhound Racing Ireland has received more than a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers’ money since 2001, including €16.8 million for 2020, €19.2 million for 2021 and €17.6 million for 2022. This is unacceptable and must be stopped. Contact the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Finance Minister now.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
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Paschal Donohoe TD
Minister for Finance
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Phone: +353 (0)1 604 5626
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