Doug Watson
On Tuesday 17 March 2015 the ERA Stewards concluded an inquiry into a report received from the approved laboratory that the prohibited substance morphine had been detected in the post-race urine sample taken from JEERAAN (USA) after it raced and won Race 2, the IPIC 30th Anniversary (2200 metres) at Meydan on 28 February 2015.
Upon investigation it was established that Mr. Watson had purchased two (2) bags of ProLinseed from a local distributor and commenced feeding that product approximately two (2) weeks prior to JEERAAN (USA) winning at Meydan on 28 February 2015.
Several other horses in Mr. Watson’s stable were on this product.
Samples were taken of all feed products and supplements fed to JEERAAN (USA) during a stable visit and inspection on 9 March 2015 by ERA Stewards and ERA Head Regulatory Veterinary Officer.
At that visit Mr Watson was advised of the irregularity to morphine. One of those samples was the supplement named ProLinseed.
Analysis by the ERA Approved Laboratory found the ProLinseed product to contain morphine. A second unopened bay of ProLinseed, taken from Mr. Watson’s stable was analyzed and also found to contain morphine.
The ProLinseed was imported to Dubai from Great Britain already bagged and ready for sale. The bag also carried a label stating that the product contained no prohibited substances.
Mr Watson had purchased a variety of feed supplements from this company for approximately five (5) years.
The local distributor was advised of the ERA findings.
Trainer Mr. D. Watson pleaded guilty to a charge under the provisions of ERA Rule of Racing 95AAA 2 in that he presented and raced JEERAAN (USA) at Meydan on 28 February 2015, when the post-race urine sample taken from that gelding, upon analysis, was found to have had administered to it morphine, a prohibited substance under the ERA Rules.
In relation to the matter of penalty, the ERA Stewards accepted that the morphine present in the ProLinseed supplement was due to contamination at some point of production. As such, no penalty was handed out to Mr Watson.
Acting under the provisions of ERA Rule of Racing 86(ii) JEERAAN (USA) was disqualified as the winner of Race 2, the IPIC 30th Anniversary (2200 metres) at Meydan on 28 February 2015 and placings adjusted to:
1st PRESS ROOM (USA) (R.Mullen)
2nd RESPECT ME (GB) (W. Smith)
3rd LANARK (IRE) (R. Ffrench)
4th ETIJAAH (USA) (D. O’Neill)
5th CRY JOY (USA) (S. De Sousa)
