Mullins fined after horse fails doping test at Cheltenham

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 22:14 · Archive

Willie Mullins has been fined and his horse Final Demand disqualified from a Cheltenham race after testing positive for mepivacaine.

Final Demand finished runner-up in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham Festival in March, beaten three-quarters of a length by stablemate Kitzbuhel. A post-race blood and urine test found mepivacaine, a local anaesthetic that is a prohibited Category B substance on raceday, in the horse's system.

Mullins admitted two offences. A British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel found he had failed to declare the use of mepivacaine in medical declaration forms submitted before the race. The panel noted that expert evidence suggested the low dose entered the horse very close to the time of sampling, and the investigation could not establish how this happened given precautions at the yard. The panel said there was no suggestion Mullins or his staff knew of any administration of the substance.

The horse was disqualified from the race and over £40,000 in prize-money forfeited. The yard's vet later disclosed that Final Demand had sustained a soft tissue injury to his lower jaw on 3 March, which had been stapled in the field by another vet using mepivacaine, though this vet was not aware of the later race participation. During the investigation, Cheltenham was fined £5,000 for failing to retain CCTV footage of the stables, though footage from the yard where the horse later received the dose was obtained and reviewed.

How it is being reported

• Mullins fined and horse disqualified over doping testA British Horseracing Authority panel fines trainer Willie Mullins and disqualifies Final Demand from a race after a failed doping test.BBC Sport · 12 Oct, 21:52
• Willie Mullins ‘visibly shocked’ after Cheltenham Festival runner-up failed drugs testFinal Demand has been disqualified from the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase and over £40,000 in prize-money forfeited after he tested positive for mepivacaine, a prohibited substance, while Mullins was fined £1,100Mirror Sport · 12 Oct, 13:37

In this story: Willie Mullins · Final Demand · Kitzbuhel · Paul Townend · Cheltenham Festival · British Horseracing Authority

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