'Attempt to hide' drug use central to decision

THE BHA said "an attempt to hide" the fact Moonlit Path had been given the banned drug tranexamic acid was central to the decision to ban Nicky Henderson for three months, but added that the leading jumps trainer's previous record had also been taken into consideration when deciding on a penalty.

Henderson is notpermitted to make any entries for horses at his yard, Seven Barrows, from July 11 until October 10 after being found guilty of the use of a banned anti-bleeding drug on the Queen's mare Moonlit Path.  

Paul Struthers, the BHA's public relations officer, said: "Any serious inquiry like this is very difficult for the panel."Breaches of rule 200 are very serious, but what they have to take into account is the ways in which it can be breached.

"The treatment wasn't recorded in the horse's record-book and they concluded there was an attempt to hide the fact the horse had been given this substance.

 

"They concluded that the reason it was done was because they knew the horse shouldn't have been given it.

"They could have disqualified him - a trainer banned, can't train, can't go racing and can't be involved in racing - but what they did was take into account Nicky's previous record. They also factored in what the substance was.

"Contrary to what some people believe, the panel's view is that if a horse has a tendency to bleed, it [tranexamic acid] will stop it."