Ecstasy found in point-to-point winner blamed on 'freak incident'

Trainer Cormac Farrell claims a freak incident is to blame for ecstasy showing up in the system of Get The Appeal after she won a point-to-point by 15 lengths at Monksgrange in March.

The Bunclody-based handler was fined €1,500 as methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), more commonly known as ecstasy, is a prohibited substance at all times.

Farrell believes the incident was out of his control and was keen to stress the levels of ecstasy found in the five-year-old daughter of Getaway were minor.

"It was a freak incident. It was a case of environmental contamination beyond anyone's control. The levels of the substance found in the horse were almost negligible and would have not even shown up in a human test," Farrell told the Racing Post.

The case was heard at the headquarters of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Monday with evidence heard from Dr Lynn Hillyer, IHRB chief veterinary officer and head of anti-doping, as well as Farrell and his assistant trainer, Mark Farrell.

Veterinary surgeon Hugh Dillon also gave evidence at the hearing and stated his belief as to how Get The Appeal could have been inadvertently exposed to MDMA through human contact.

Having considered the evidence, the IHRB committee found Farrell in breach of Rule 96(c) as there was an adverse analytical finding for a substance prohibited at all times.

They disqualified Get The Appeal and imposed a €1,500 fine on Farrell.

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