Rehearing hits another snag over new panel chairman

The rehearing of the BHA non-trier case against Jim Best has run into further problems after the trainer's solicitors said they were not prepared to accept the organisation responsible for finding a new panel chairman.

After the guilty verdict and four-year disqualification of Best was quashed by an appeal panel in May on grounds that included a perception of bias – after it emerged inquiry chairman Matthew Lohn had carried out other paid work for the BHA – it was accepted independent disputes resolution service Sport Resolutions would help identify an independent chair for a rehearing.

However, Best's legal firm, Stewart-Moore Solicitors, yesterday claimed it had not been included in all correspondence between the BHA and Sport Resolutions and said it understood the person identified as the new chairman has previously worked on the same panel as Lohn.