Trainer cops four year ban over EPO charge

Veteran South Australian horseman Darryl Carrison will attempt to gain a stay of proceedings that will allow him to continue training while he appeals a four year disqualification for a charge relating to synthetic EPO use.

Carrison fronted the stewards on Tuesday following a long-running investigation into a positive swab returned by one of his horses.

It is understood he entered a guilty plea to a presentation charge at the inquiry.

Carrison confirmed the charge to Betsy and, while he remained tight-lipped on the case, he denied administering the substance.

The horse in question is not believed to be Carrison’s recent Stakes winner Sav On Ice, who is an acceptor in Saturday’s Murray Bridge Gold Cup.

Whether or not that horse is allowed to run on the weekend will be determined by whether Carrison is granted a stay of proceedings by the SA Racing Appeals Tribunal on Wednesday or Thursday.

“They gave me a four year disqualification,” Carrison said.

“We’re appealing it (severity of the ban) but I’ll find out pretty soon if I’ve been granted a stay.”

“I probably shouldn’t say too much until I get the stay sorted.”

Racing SA Chairman of Stewards Matt Santoro wasn’t in a position to comment, other than to indicate a full stewards’ report will be released on the matter.

A synthetic product designed to replicate the effects of naturally occurring Erythropoietin, synthetic EPO stimulates the production of red blood cells in bone marrow and regulates the concentration of red blood cells and haemoglobin in the blood.

It has the potential to improve performance in horses as red blood cells shuttle oxygen to the cells, including muscle cells, enabling them to operate more effectively.

Richard Laming, Jarrod McLean and Les Kelly are among Australian trainers to have been previously charged with EPO use on horses.

In 2019, Carrison received an eight month suspension for a charge relating to illegal cobalt use.