Wrong.
As at 10/2009:
1. ALAN DONOHOE
Five charges for acting in a manner detrimental to the sport by administering EPO to five different horses: Schultz, Jimmy Jazzalong, Bailey Bromac, Disco Lemonade and Riverboat Rosie.
Penalty: Six-year disqualification.
Status: Appeal against penalty yesterday, reduced from six years to four years and six months.
2. JEREMY QUINLAN/
LARRY GRANTHAM
Three positive tests from pacer Em Maguane.
Penalties: Quinlan (trainer) disqualified for six years. Grantham (stable foreman who admitted administering the drug) disqualified for 13 years.
Status: Quinlan appeal to be heard at a date to be set. Grantham did not appeal.
3. AUSTIN MIFSUD
One positive test from an out-of-competition sample with pacer Julies Equity.
Status: Inquiry to be heard at date to be fixed.
4. PHILLIP WALTERS
One positive test from an out-of-competition sample with pacer Second Mortgage.
Status: Inquiry at a date to be fixed.
Wrong.
I have talked to a trainer and a owner in NSW who have been approached in the past to buy ITPP. I can tell you the stuff is not cheap, way above the means of a hobby trainer. The only blokes who can afford this are big time stables and big time punting stables. It is definitely out there.
HRNSW came out with an article a couple of months ago, stating that older swab samples would be frozen and retained for when a test becomes available to detect ITPP. I can guarantee HRNSW knows it is out there, and this was HRNSW's subtle way of telling these trainers to quit while the going is good.