‘It’s very concerning’: ATA boss backs trainers in drug saga

Victoria’s ATA President Troy Corstens has thrown his support behind trainers caught up in the growing drug saga and has vowed to work closely with authorities to determine the source of the mystery positives.

At least 24 thoroughbred and harness trainers across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania have been embroiled in the Formestane saga with their horses returning post-race urine samples containing traces of the banned breast cancer drug and its metabolite 4-Hydroxytestosterone.

So far, Racing Victoria has levelled presentation charges at seven of those stables, with the first five currently being heard by the Victorian Racing Tribunal.

All the trainers charged by Racing Victoria have denied wrongdoing.

Several more have been notified of positive swabs, including as recently as the 2025 spring, although charges have not yet been laid.

On Monday, Betsy reported that RV and Damian Sheales, the lawyer representing the first five stables charged, had reached an agreement that will see the trainers plead guilty to presentation charges.

As part of the agreement, several pieces of evidence presented by both parties have been withdrawn, including testimony from an RV vet that the most likely cause of the positive swabs was administration. RV have since admitted trainers did not purposely administer anything illegal.

Corstens said he accepts that the trainers have done nothing wrong and understands their motivations to change their plea to bring an end to the long-running case.

While the VRT can still penalise the trainers, it is expected they will receive a minor sanction.

“Basically, I don’t think anyone is cheating with Formestane,” Corstens said.

“I don’t think there’s anything untoward whatsoever by any of the people that have been charged.”

“It’s a very complex issue and it’s very concerning.”

“For there to have been so many positives, it’s a real worry.”

“Usually, they can be tied in whereby everyone involved uses the same feed or the same supplements or whatever it is but there is a common denominator.”

“But this one is really weird and nobody seems to know where it is coming from and that’s what is making it so difficult.”

Corstens said the ATA’s Paul Maher has observed the entire VRT hearing and will again be present later this month when the Tribunal reconvenes for a plea hearing.

He said the ATA will meet with RV following the VRT’s decision to map out a plan forward for the other trainers that have had horses test positive to Formestane and determine if any further investigation will take place.

“Racing Victoria want to know where it’s coming from, just as much as every trainer in the state does,” he said.

“We’re playing with people’s lives and reputations here, that’s what we’ve got to remember.”

“I don’t think that anyone has a clear answer for it at the moment, which makes it tough.”

“That (meeting with RV) will definitely be happening once the current VRT case is finalised.”