Steve Evans, joint owner of Churchfield Syd, expressed his disappointment with the British Greyhound Racing Board (GBGB) after his greyhound was disqualified as the Ladbrokes Winter Derby winner due to a positive drugs test. Evans voiced his frustration over the failure to secure a hair sample from Churchfield Syd.
According to Evans, they requested a hair sample immediately, with Duncan Gibson, Senior Steward, agreeing to conduct it on March 9th at Central Park. However, when Churchfield Syd arrived, Carly Philpott informed them that she couldn't proceed as she didn't have the necessary equipment, and it would take three weeks to acquire it.
GBGB, in response, stated that hair sampling is effective after a period of time has passed since ingestion, generally being a matter of months rather than weeks. While they assess the usefulness of hair sampling on a case-by-case basis, ensuring its integrity through strict processes, they emphasized the need for veterinary supervision.
Additionally, GBGB highlighted their approach of progressing samples of other materials in kennels to identify or eliminate potential sources of contamination. This evidence contributes to disciplinary proceedings following a positive sample, adhering to the GBGB Rules of Racing.