Tuesday 19 September 2017 15:42, UK
The British Horseracing Authority has disqualified two prominent trainers, Stephen and Michael McConville, for three years for horse doping at Cheltenham Festival.
Anseanachai Cliste was due to run in the Foxhunter Chase in March but, just hours before the race, his trainer was told the horse could not line up after security staff at the course found used syringes in a bag in the horse's stable.
The disciplinary panel decided the doping was pre-meditated because Stephen and Michael McConville had deliberately injected the horse with Cobalt, having brought the drug over with them from Northern Ireland.
Cobalt acts like EPO, and increases endurance by stimulating the production of red blood cells.
The bans were reduced from four and five years respectively after the two men admitted to the offence early.
The suspensions will apply to all involvement in Horseracing worldwide.
