Hannon fined £8,000 for fourth tramadol positive in two years

Classic-winning trainer Richard Hannon has been handed a hefty fine of £8,000 after a disciplinary panel expressed "serious concerns" in the wake of a fourth positive test for banned substance tramadol in a two-year period.

O-desmethyltramadol – a metabolite of tramadol – showed up in the urine sample of De Bruyne Horse after his Woodcote Stakes victory at Epsom on Oaks day in June.

During the hearing into the matter – details of which were released yesterday – two previous panel decisions involving three separate cases were cited, when Hannon was fined £2,000 and £5,000 for breaching rule (G)2.1, on both occasions relating to tramadol, a painkiller.

Since the positive result for De Bruyne Horse was revealed, Hannon has taken steps to reduce the chances of cross-contamination. These include introducing a clock-in and clock-out system, installing hand sanitisers around the yard and submitting random samples to a vets group otherwise independent from his yard (Rossdales).

However, the disciplinary panel were critical of the trainer – whose string in Horses in Training 2017 totalled 253 – and how long it has taken him to address shortcomings.

Their statement read: "This fourth finding is a cause for serious concern in that apart from the documents issued to his staff in July 2016 [requesting any medication they receive be reported to the stable office immediately] no serious attempt to improve the system was implemented until after the fourth positive.

Richard Hannon: trainer's De Bruyne Horse failed a testCredit: Harry Trump

"For that reason the panel's view was that, absent of other factors, the appropriate penalty would be at the top end of the range [which is £1,000-£10,000].

"The panel were, however, impressed by Mr Hannon's candour in relation to the past and in particular his acknowledgement that following the test on June 2, 2017, he realised that he had to take outside advice with a view to improving the position."

The recent high-profile case involving Philip Hobbs and Keep Moving was also referenced in the panel's statement. Hobbs escaped a fine after admitting to a breach of the same rule, and an appeal by the BHA was recently dismissed.

Hannon, unlike Hobbs, the panel said, had not taken all reasonable precautions to prevent cross-contamination.

The statement continued with reference to future cases: "The panel acknowledges that the BHA cannot be expected to issue a set of recommendations which would cover every yard; clearly what amounts to all reasonable precautions in a yard with only a handful of horses may be very different from what is required in a yard containing 200 horses with multiple locations. Each case will be fact-specific."

Hannon could not be reached for comment on Monday, while De Bruyne Horse being disqualified has resulted in the Mark Johnston-trained runner-up Cardsharp being promoted to first place in the conditions contest.

What is tramadol?

Tramadol is a strong painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain. It comes in the form of tablets, capsules and liquid drops and can also be given by injection, though this is usually done only in hospital.

There are no preparations of tramadol licensed for use in animals, although in the UK it can be administered by a veterinary surgeon to ensure health and welfare where authorised veterinary medicines are not available.

Cross-contamination from humans is possible, but in the Hannon case no such potential source could be found.

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