Subject: POSITIVE FINDING OF TRAMADOL RETURNED BY HORSE, STANISLAUS
April 16, 2024


The First Instance Tribunal, Delegatees of the Jamaica Racing Commission, on 15th April, 2024 concluded an investigation under Section 25 of the Jamaica Racing Commission Act, into a report by the Racing Chemist that a urine sample taken from the horse, STANISLAUS, following the running of Race No.6 on Saturday, 8th OCTOBER 2022, indicated the presence of the prohibited substance TRAMADOL. This is in breach of Rule 247 under the Racing Rules 1977. The split portion (B sample) was subsequently analyzed at the University of the West Indies Mona Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (UWIMAC), where the presence of TRAMADOL was confirmed to be in the sample. After thoroughly considering the evidence presented, the Tribunal: • Accepted the finding of the Racing Chemist, that the urine sample taken from the horse STANISLAUS on the 8th OCTOBER 2022, contained the prohibited substance TRAMADOL (Class 2 drug). • Ruled that the presence of TRAMADOL in the post-race urine sample of STANISLAUS was in breach of Rule 247 of the Jamaica Racing Commission Racing Rules 1977. • Found that the trainer failed to rebut the presumption of negligence, and the groom was found culpable because he was aware of the matter. • Disqualified STANISLAUS from the race, pursuant to Rule 207 of the Racing Rules 1977. • Warned off Trainer Gregory Forsyth for a period of one year, with immediate effect, following the decision handed down. • Imposed a fine of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) on Trainer Gregory Forsyth and Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars (75,000.00) on Groom Hugh Bembridge to be paid no later than Ninety (90) days after the ruling. Mr. Garth McBean K.C., the Commission’s Legal Adviser, marshalled the evidence on behalf of the Commission.