Philip Fenton to face Turf Club drugs hearing

Trainer Philip Fenton, fined €6,000 for possession of anabolic steroids and other banned substances at Carrick-On-Suir district court last month, is set to appear before the Turf Club’s Referrals Committee in two weeks’ time.

Saturday, November 22nd has been provisionally pencilled in by racing’s regulatory body for a hearing into a long-running drugs controversy which has hung over Irish racing for most of 2014.

Co Tipperary-based Fenton faced eight charges after a box containing 25 bottles and containers of animal remedies was found at his stables in January 2012.

Among them was one kilo of the anabolic steroid Nitrotain in a paste form, enough for 250 doses, and a 20ml bottle of a second performance-enhancing drug, Ilium Stanabolic.

Unauthorised remedies

Another trainer, Co Carlow-based Pat Hughes, was also found guilty last month of possessing unauthorised animal remedies, including an anabolic steroid, and was fined €2,500.

He has indicated he is appealing that verdict through the courts but the Turf Club believes Fenton isn’t pursuing such a course and have set a Saturday week date for him to appear before the referrals committee.

The range of penalties open to the Turf Club is wide, including suspension of Fenton’s licence to train, disqualification, or a fine.

In May, Portrush, Co Antrim-based businessman and owner Robert Martin was “warned off” horseracing for 10 years by the Turf Club over his involvement in the Yachvili betting scandal, the most severe penalty handed out by Ireland’s racing authorities in modern times.