Landmark ruling in Hobbs case could undermine anti-doping rules

On Tuesday one of the most important hearings in many years took place at the BHA's High Holborn headquarters. It's a curious case, unremarkable at first glance, yet it will yield a landmark decision concerning responsibility in doping cases.

The saga began back in August, when a disciplinary panel comprised of two Queen's Counsel and Jenny Pitman sat to consider what appeared a routine prohibited substance charge against Philip Hobbs.

His horse Keep Moving had provided a positive urine sample for cetirizine, an antihistamine commonly found in anti-allergy medication licensed for human use, following his third-place finish in a chase at Ludlow in January. Hobbs admitted the breach and asked for the case to be heard in his absence, not uncommon in cases of this type, where the charges concern non-performance enhancing substances in a single horse and when the probable source is cross-contamination.