By: Brad Davidson

THREE thoroughbred and three harness trainers are facing possible bans after nine samples came back above the cobalt threshold in Racing Queensland’s initial tests on 340 urine samples.

But no names were revealed as Racing Queensland wish to keep the identity of those trainers in possible hot water secret until the B-samples of the nine irregularities are completed.

The B-samples will be sent to Perth for testing next week.

One thoroughbred trainer linked to the irregularities voluntary handed in his trainers’ license last year.

Initially, Racing Queensland conducted 290 tests for cobalt on Queensland harness and thoroughbred races up until June 2014 and nine of those samples came back as concerning.

The nine samples had to be sent to Perth for further testing.

Three of those samples had already been given the all clear prior to today’s announcement after coming under the 200 microgram per litre of urine cobalt threshold.

The other six samples came back above the threshold, four harness samples from three different trainers and two thoroughbred samples from two different trainers.

Racing Queensland also sent a further 50 samples from as recent as December last year to Perth for testing.

Of those samples, three came back above the threshold, two harness samples from two trainers both linked to the initial irregularities and one thoroughbred sample from one trainer.

Combining all the tests, there were six harness samples from three trainers and three thoroughbred samples from three trainers that came back irregular.

The Queensland cobalt drama comes after it was announced that three Victorian trainers — Peter Moody, Danny O’Brien and Mark Kavanagh- are facing possible bans after horses in their care returned levels above the new cobalt threshold during the spring carnival last year.

The 200 microgram cobalt threshold was officially introduced in Australian racing on January 1 this year.