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Racing NSW Stewards have conducted an inquiry into the analyst’s findings relative to a urine sample provided by licensed apprentice, Ms Faith Collins after fulfilling trackwork duties at Albury Race Club on the morning of Monday, 9 October 2023.

Charges: AR139(1)(a) – Offences where riders use banned substances

Ms Collins who was accompanied by her master, licensed trainer Mr Rob Wellington, was charged with a breach of AR139(1)(a), in that she did provide a sample of her urine on the morning of Monday, 9 October 2023 at Albury Race club which upon analysis was found to contain banned substance’s under AR136(1) above the respective threshold, namely Benzoylecgonine and Ecgonine Methyl Ester, metabolites of cocaine.

Plea: Guilty

Penalty: 9 months suspension, reduced to 6 months suspension for guilty plea

When determining penalty, Stewards believed the appropriate penalty for the offence was a suspension of 9 months. Having regard to Ms Collins’ guilty plea, the penalty was reduced to 6 months, to commence, 16 November 2023, on which day Ms Collins was stood down and to expire on 16 May 2024.

In addition, Ms Collins was advised that should she provide a urine sample free from any substances banned under AR136(1), in accordance with AR139(4), she would be permitted to undertake stablehand duties from, 16 February 2024.

Furthermore, Ms Collins was advised that under the provisions of AR283(5), should she complete a satisfactory period of counselling, the final 2 months of the suspension would be stayed allowing Ms Collins to return on 16 March 2024.

Penalty

The Stewards considered the following matters when determining penalty:

1. Ms Collins’ guilty plea
2. Her personal and professional circumstances.
3. Forthright evidence and co-operation at inquiry.
4. Good record.

Ms Collins was advised of her rights of appeal. 

Relevant Rules

AR 139 Offences where riders use banned substances

(1) A rider breaches these Australian Rules if:

(a) a banned substance under AR 136(1) is detected in a sample taken from the rider

AR 136 Banned substances in relation to riders

(1) Unless otherwise stated in these Australian Rules, the following substances and/or their metabolites, artefacts and isomers are specified as banned substances in riders when detected in a urine sample at a concentration above the respective threshold level:

          (g) all stimulants, including but not limited to:

          (viii) cocaine (100μg/L);

AR 139 Offences where riders use banned substances

(4) If a rider incurs a penalty or is prevented by the Stewards from riding under this rule, the rider cannot resume riding until the period of the penalty has expired and a sample from the rider free of any banned substance under AR 136(1) has been delivered, as directed by the Stewards.