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Racing NSW Stewards conducted an inquiry into the analyst’s findings relative to a urine sample provided by licensed foreperson Ms Amber Comb after fulfilling her stable duties at Albury Race Club on the morning of Monday, 9 October 2023.

Charges: AR140(1)(a) – Offences where Horse Handlers use banned substances

Ms Comb was charged with a breach of AR140(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 substances under AR136(1) namely Methylenedioxymethylamphetamine which was above the threshold under the Rules of Racing. Ketamine and its metabolite Norketamine were also detected.

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 Comb’s guilty plea, the penalty was reduced to 6 months, to commence, 16 November 2023, on which day Ms Comb was stood down and to expire on 16 May 2024.

Furthermore, Ms Comb 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 Comb to return on, 16 March 2024.

Penalty

 The Stewards considered the following matters when determining penalty.

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

Ms Comb was advised of his rights of appeal.

Relevant Rules

AR 140 Offences where Horse Handlers use banned substances.

(1) A horse handler breaches these Australian Rules if:

(a) a banned substance under AR 137(1) is detected in a sample taken from the horse handler.

AR 137 Banned substances in relation to horse handlers

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

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

          (v)  Methylenedioxmethylamphetamine (MDMA) (150μg/L);

(g) all dissociative anaesthetics and related substances,

         (i) Ketamine (0μg/L);

AR 140 Offences where Horse Handlers use banned substances.

(4) If a horse handler incurs a penalty or is stood down 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 137(1) has been delivered, as directed by the Stewards.