Nick Ryan charged and Derby Day runners withdrawn after syringe discovery
Trainer Nick Ryan has been charged with alleged possession of darbepoetin alfa after two syringes were found in his car during a stable inspection, prompting Racing Victoria stewards to withdrew his runners, Anglais and Doubt Time, from the Victoria Derby day meeting.
Racing Victoria (RV) stewards have withdrawn Nick Ryan’s two runners from Saturday’s Victoria Derby meeting after charging the Flemington trainer with alleged possession of a prohibited substance following a morning stable inspection.
Anglais, engaged in the Wakeful Stakes, and Doubt Time, engaged in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, were scratched at 12pm.
Stewards said they acted “bearing in mind the serious nature of the charge” under AR 23 (d). That rule lets stewards make “any other direction or order the Stewards think fit in the interests of racing” while a charge is awaiting determination.
Ryan was charged under AR 250 (a), which prohibits possession of a substance on Prohibited List A.
The particulars allege that, during the inspection, “Mr Ryan was found to have in his possession, in the glove box of his motor vehicle, two syringes of Darbepoetin Alfa which is a prohibited substance under Prohibited List A of the Australian Rules of Racing.”
Darbepoetin alfa is a long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agent, a class of growth factor that stimulates red blood cell production.
It is named in the first entry of Prohibited List A, alongside EPO and Mircera. The rules classify everything on that list as prohibited at all times.
Stewards opened the inquiry following a report from RV Compliance Assurance Team manager Rhys Melville and took evidence from Melville, RV regulatory veterinarian Dr Edwina Wilkes and Ryan.
Ryan reserved his plea, with the inquiry adjourned until Monday.
Anglais had been due to contest the Wakeful Stakes, the traditional lead-up to the VRC Oaks.
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