Racing.com Staff:

Trainers Robbie Laing and Russell and Scott Cameron have avoided sanction after having mares in their respective stables test positive for trenbolone, an anabolic androgenic steroid.

Racing Victoria stewards in their investigation found that Laing and the Camerons administered a product (Regu-Mate) containing the active constituent altrenogest, a product used to prevent mares from coming into season.

Stewards had various registered products containing altrenogest analysed for trenbolone. It was established that the analysis of these products, including the products used by Laing and the Camerons, contained levels of trenbolone in circumstances where the trainers would have been unaware.

As a result of information obtained during the investigation, stewards issued notices to all trainers and veterinarians on June 19 and September 4 this year, advising them to immediately stop the use of products that contain altrenogest. This advice remains current.

Having considered all the evidence obtained and the circumstances of each case, including that the positive samples were collected prior to the notices being issued to trainers and veterinarians, the stewards elected to take no further action against Laing or the Camerons under the Australian Rules of Racing.

Under AR177, a horse that returns a positive sample must be disqualified from a relevant race.

The stewards will request that the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board hear and determine that Laing’s mare Little Indian must be disqualified from the thebigscreencompany.com.au BM70 Handicap (1000 metres) at Mornington Racecourse on 30 September 2017.

Under AR178H, a horse is not permitted to start in any race or official trial for 12 months from the date of the collection of the sample. To that end, the stewards reconfirmed that the stand-down period for the Camerons’ galloper Mrs Hardwick will expire on January 22 next year.

Meanwhile, Racing Victoria stewards have fined both directors of a syndication company as an inquiry concluded on Tuesday.

First Light Racing directors Tim Wilson and Sam Kilkenny have both been individually fined $5000 while the company has also received a $5000 penalty.

It comes after stewards charged both Wilson and Kilkenny for failing to disclose relevant conflicts of interest in their product disclosure statement for two horses they were syndicating, an unnamed Charge Forward colt and Arizona Belle.

In determining the penalties, stewards took into account the pleas of guilt and the co-operation of First Light Racing’s directors during the investigation, which included the review of various Product Disclosure Statements.

Stewards will also allow First Light Racing to syndicate the unnamed Charge Forward colt pending appropriate disclosure being made in the PDS for the horse.