Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) would like to reinforce to participants the need to familiarize themselves and adhere to the Feeding, Medication and Supplement guidelines, a copy of which is accessible via the below link.
GRV has previously issued warnings about the feeding of knackery meat by reason of the risk that it could contain prohibited substances when ingested. GRV also warns of the dangers of inadvertent exposure to personal (human) medications and the vigilance that is required when feeding greyhounds in this respect. Other known sources of human foods which result in positive swabs if digested by a greyhound, such as bread or other baked goods containing poppy seeds, foods containing chocolate, and liquids such as tea or coffee including other products from health food shops or gyms that may contain caffeine or other stimulants.
Feeding greyhounds knackery meat and/or engaging in insufficient hygiene precautions (e.g not wearing gloves whilst handling food or failing to wash hands after taking medication or using the bathroom) are known risks for contamination.
Unfortunately, despite the well-understood risks, there is an increasing number of greyhounds being presented for racing while contaminated by prohibited substances. The presence of a prohibited substance in a registered racing greyhound undermines the integrity of the industry and depending on the prohibited substance, can lead to animal welfare issues.
The Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) has also expressed its concerns in a number of recent matters regarding the volume of cases that continue to come before the VRT claiming accidental contamination.
This Notice is to alert Greyhound Racing Industry Participants that GRV Stewards will seek an increase in penalties for any sample taken from a greyhound after 1 September 2021 which results in a positive test to a prohibited substance (as defined in the Greyhounds Australasia Rules, including permanently banned prohibited substances) that are presumed to have occurred from inadvertent contamination through the feeding of unfit for human consumption meat (knackery meat), from contamination with personal medications or other human foods.
Whilst each case will continue to be assessed on its own merits and in accordance with GRV’s Prosecution Guidelines, participants should expect increased penalties for breaches relating to the feeding of knackery meat or contamination from human medications or other human foods.
In August 2016, GRV published the ‘Feeding, Medication & Supplement Guidelines’ on its website and GRV Monthly Magazine, and more recently in July 2020 published an article in the GRV Monthly Magazine ‘What’s in your greyhound’s food bowl’.
Greyhound Racing Industry Participants are once again urged to visit these guidelines and this article via the links below to help understand the risks and consequences associated with the feeding of knackery meat and exposure to personal medications.