Racing Victoria stewards have confirmed that the Luke Oliver trained Justdoit has returned a positive test to a “prohibitive substance”.
After Justdoit won the Donate to RDA Australia (Race 3) at Flemington on August 3, a post-race urine sample was taken. And yesterday (Thursday), Racing Victoria revealed that the sample showed traces of the drug methamphetamine.
The shock news was delivered to Oliver at the start of September when he was reportedly in hospital with his wife as she gave birth to a baby girl.
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Oliver said he was now helping stewards with the investigation and all his staff, including himself, had been drug tested.
“We’re hoping to get to the bottom of it, but it’s been tough on the staff, myself and the mare’s owners,” Oliver told Racenet.
According to RV, the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory has also reported that it had detected methamphetamine in Justdoit’s “reserve portion of the urine sample”.
“Methamphetamine is a nervous system stimulant. There are no reported therapeutic uses for methamphetamine in horses,” Racing Victoria said in a statement.
“Methamphetamine is a prohibited substance in accordance with the Australian Rules of Racing. “RV Stewards initially informed Mr Oliver of the irregularity on September 5, 2024.
“Mr Oliver has now been informed of the confirmatory findings and that RV Stewards are continuing their investigation.”