By: Racing.Com Staff
Mornington trainer Kane Harris will not face charges over two cobalt positives with Racing Victoria stewards announcing on Tuesday night that the reserve samples taken from two of his runners were under the permitted threshold.
The move by stewards came after the Queensland laboratory the Racing Science Centre declared the reserve portions of the samples were within the permitted threshold of 100 micrograms per litre in urine.
Earlier, Racing Analytical Services Limited had reported the pre-race blood samples from Harris’ horses He’s Got Spunk and Nitro Nick at a Mornington meeting in December had been over the threshold.
Harris took to Racing.com earlier this month to declare his innocence after stewards had informed him of the cobalt positives.
In a statement on Tuesday, the stewards said: “Following a thorough investigation, the stewards have decided not to proceed with any action against Mr Harris given the reserve samples were under the permitted threshold when the measurement of uncertainty was applied.
“In the absence of scientific evidence supporting the detection of cobalt in both the reserve samples at a prohibited level, the stewards ultimately determined that it was not reasonably open to exercise their discretion to pursue charges in their instance.
“Accordingly, Mr Harris has been advised today that no charges will be laid.”
But stewards concluded their statement by saying they may yet pursue Harris for comments he made on Racing.com: “Mr Harris was also interviewed today by the Stewards in respect of comments he made on Racing.com on 12 January, 2017 in relation to this matter.
“The Stewards have adjourned this matter to consider the evidence.”
