Philip Fenton

[Old Vic]

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/feb/17/philip-fenton-court-drugs-charges

The training career of Philip Fenton hangs in the balance as he faces a court appearance on Thursday on charges of possessing anabolic steroids and other banned substances. The Irishman has had praise heaped on him in recent weeks for the way in which he has been able to revive the careers of Last Instalment and Dunguib, both expected to run at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

It is believed that Fenton denies the charges, though he said he could not discuss the case in detail when contacted by telephone on Monday at his stable at Carrick On Suir, near Waterford. Asked if he would be able to sustain his training operation in the face of such potentially devastating legal proceedings, he laughed and said: "I'm sure I'll be fine".

The first two of the eight charges Fenton faces relate to alleged possession of Nitrotain, a paste which contains the anabolic steroid ethylestranol, and Ilium Stanabolic, which contains the anabolic steroid stanozolol. Ethylestranol and stanozolol were the performance-enhancing drugs which ex-Godolphin trainer Mahmood al-Zarooni was found to have used on his horses when he was banished from racing for eight years last spring.

If found guilty of any one charge, Fenton would be liable to a fine not exceeding ¤5,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both, according to the Irish Department of Agriculture, which initiated proceedings. The summons dates Fenton's alleged possession at 18 January 2012, suggesting this matter has been hanging over his head for more than two years. He has already appeared in court twice in connection with this matter, though those proceedings have gone unreported.

Potentially the most serious consequences for Fenton would be the reaction of the sport's ruling body. A spokesman for the Irish Turf Club said that, if anyone was found guilty of such charges, disciplinary proceedings would be initiated immediately.

The remaining court charges against Fenton relate to possession of drugs without a relevant prescription, the substances being listed as Engemycin 10%, Neomycin Penicillin, Betamoz LA and Marbocyl 10%. It is understood these drugs are typically used to combat infection in animals.

Fenton made his name with Dunguib, who shocked the Cheltenham Festival crowd in 2009 when winning the Champion Bumper by 10 lengths. Injury problems kept him on the sidelines for almost three years but he won a Grade Two race at Navan on Sunday and is expected to contest a handicap at the Festival next month, when his popularity will ensure he has plenty of backers.

But he is no longer the biggest name in the yard, since Last Instalment is third-favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup itself. He recently won the Irish Gold Cup on his second run after an injury-enforced absence of two years. Fenton was thought likely to be a prominent figure at the Festival before this latest news broke, as he also has The Tullow Tank for one of the week's novice hurdle events.

Fenton has run foul of the sport's rules on drugs in the past, when Dunguib was disqualified from a Grade One win at Punchestown in 2009. The horse tested positive for a banned substance, which Fenton said came from worming medicine intended for another horse. The trainer was fined ¤3,000.

[Sefton]

The man deserves a hearing before the twitter mob convict him. It all occurred 2 years ago. Main questions for me would be :

Why did this take so long to get to court?
Are the drugs illegal if they have passed through the horses system?
When did the O'Leary's know ?
When were last Installment and Dunquib tested?

[mayo]

AN O'Leary in anti-establishment rant

Gigginstown's racing manager, Eddie O'Leary, said the case against Fenton was "an absolute storm in a teacup".

He told Press Association Sport: "I spoke to Philip on Monday and he's more embarrassed than anything else.

"We should remember that this all happened two and a half years ago.

"We support Philip wholeheartedly. He has never had a positive test for anything. You could not meet a straighter, and more honest, fellow."

Fenton's stock has been especially high of late following the exploits of Last Instalment and the 2009 Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner Dunguib, who was victorious at Navan on Sunday.

The Tullow Tank is another Fenton-trained candidate for the Cheltenham Festival in March after winning three races, two of which were Grade Ones, this term.

O'Leary, brother of Ryanair supremo and fellow Gigginstown boss, Michael, is adamant Fenton will not be found guilty of any wrongdoing when the case is heard on Thursday morning at Carrick-on-Suir District Court.

He said: "I'm sure he'll be fine. All this is bureaucracy gone mad, jobs for the boys. It's the department (of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) trying to make work for themselves by wanting proper labels on every single bottle in every single yard.

"We spend whatever money on educating and qualifying vets, but the vast majority of department vets have no actual interest in being vets. All they want is to join the department and have a nice and easy nine-to-five job.

"Horses cannot be looked after nine to five. If a horse gets colic, you sometimes have to treat it yourself or it could be dead by the time the vet gets there. This is an absolute storm in a teacup and I'm sure most normal people will see this for what it is."

The Irish Courts Service confirmed in a summons notice that Fenton has been served with a series of charges in relation to animal remedies.

Should he be found guilty, punishments range from a maximum fine of 5,000 euro to a six-month term of imprisonment.

The Tullow Tank's owner Barry Connell refused to be drawn on the Fenton case when contacted on Tuesday morning.

[Lester]

Not sure about this at all. Gigginstown have only fed the thing now.

[Sefton]

O'Leary's clearly in the loop then.

It would be in eveyones interest if all Fentons horses were tested now.

[Lester]

Bha getting involved ?

"We are in communication with the Irish Turf Club in relation to Philip Fenton's court appearance," said a BHA statement. "It is not appropriate for us to comment any further on this matter at this stage, although we are conscious of the need for clarity as soon as possible in advance of [the] Cheltenham Festival."

In ordinary circumstances, the BHA would not act until the Irish justice system had completed the case and the Irish Turf Club had decided upon its own response. But, fearing the case could be a threatening cloud over the Festival, the BHA is winding itself up to take an active interest in the matter over the next fortnight in the hope that by doing so it can minimise sensationalist speculation during one of the sport's most high-profile weeks. What action it can possibly take remains unknown, however.

[Morning Glory]

Pat Hughes change now . It all looks linked to this

Retired vet inspector pleads guilty to unauthorised animal remedies
By Contributor on October 4, 2013

Today at a sitting of Carlow District Court, John Hughes, a retired vet, from Orchard, Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow pleaded guilty to four counts of possession on 2 February 2012 of unauthorised animal remedies namely Detomovet, Thiazine, Omoguard Paste and Pentosan Gold and Halo.

The vet also pleaded guilty to one count of possession on the same date of an animal remedy consisting of or containing a substance having an androgenic action, namely Nitrotain Oral Paste.

Judge O’Brien ordered that the State’s legal costs in the amount of €3,000 to be paid by Hughes, witness expenses in the sum of €100 to be paid and a donation of €10,000 to be paid to the Kilkenny Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (KSPCA) .

A Forfeiture Order in respect of the products seized was granted. The matter was adjourned to 5 December for mention only. On that occasion, on proof of payment of the €10,000 donation to the KSPCA, the Court indicated that it might be disposed to applying the Probation Act.

[Old Vic]

a few more

http://www.independent.ie/sport/hors...-29639428.html … &

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/irela...ssed-1.1618612 …

[Old Vic]

[Old Vic]

The British Horseracing Authority has confirmed that officials visited Philip Fenton's stables in Ireland on Wednesday to carry out tests on the County Tipperary trainer's Cheltenham entries, including Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Last Instalment.

The BHA also interviewed Fenton, who is set to appear at a County Tipperary court on March 20 to answer charges brought about by the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine following an inspection of his yard on January 18, 2012.

Following consultation with the Irish Turf Club, it had been agreed that samples from Fenton's horses will be collected by the BHA and fast-track testing will take place at HFL Sport Science, Newmarket, with the results of the tests available next week.

The visit was part of an ongoing process of gathering all relevant information regarding the issue.

It is intended that blood and hair samples are taken for testing, with substances able to be detected in hair samples for a greater period of time than is the case with either blood or urine.

It is understood negative samples would not automatically mean the horses would be allowed to run at Cheltenham, should other issues arise as part of the BHA trip.

The Irish Courts Service served a summons notice that Fenton has been served with a series of charges in relation to animal remedies.

Should he be found guilty, punishments range from a maximum fine of 5,000 euro to a six-month term of imprisonment.

The case was adjourned after a brief hearing last Thursday after which one of Fenton's leading owners Barry Connell announced he would not run any of his horses based with the trainer at Cheltenham, headed by dual Grade One-winning novice hurdler The Tullow Tank.