Billionaire horse trainer gets massive ban after 12 horses test positive for anabolic steroids in ‘unprecedented’ case
A BILLIONAIRE horse trainer famed for his recent 200-1 winner has been banned for three years after 12 of his horses tested positive for anabolic steroids.
Comer was questioned by stewards last month after Navajo River sprung a 200-1 shock at Roscommon.
HEALY RACINGBillionaire property mogul and horse trainer Comer has been given a three-year ban after 12 of his horses failed drugs tests[/caption]
The Irish plasterer-turned-property mogul holds the record for the biggest priced winner in history after 300-1 He Knows No Fear won at Leopardstown in August 2020.
But now multiple websites are reporting his career is in tatters after the bombshell drugs finding – which is on an ‘unprecedented’ scale.
The Irish Field report that Comer is facing legal costs of around £650,000 on top of the ban.
Incredibly, He Knows No Fear was one of the horses who failed a drugs test.
According to an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board report, He Knows No Fear tested positive after finishing fourth in a Listed race at Leopardstown in October 2021.
A B sample confirmed the original positive.
Out of competition testing took place at Comer’s yard on November 10 2021 and 11 further horses tested positive for banned substances.
The horses were Old Tom Higgins, Boxing Hero, Grand D’espagne, Aircraft Carrier, Powerful Don, Wee Jim, Great Moon, Our Man Flint, Questionare, Green Force and Blyton.
No banned substances were found on the premises and ‘no articles or paraphernalia that might be associated with the administration of a prohibited substance’ were found either.
The report added: “It is fair to say that there was no direct evidence of deliberate doping in this case.”
However, the report goes onto add that the scale of the alleged doping is on an ‘unprecedented’ scale.
It read: “It is hardly necessary to state the gravity of the finding where it involved so many horses in one yard. It was quite unprecedented.”
Comer has been fined just £50,000 for the 12 horses that failed tests.
He Knows No Fear was also disqualified from that Leopardstown race after which the sample was taken.
He Knows No Fear was also disqualified from that Leopardstown race after which the sample was taken.
Comer denies that he or any of his staff were involved in doping the dozen horses.
In his witness statement Comer said: “I have an unblemished record as a trainer.”
But the IHRB report said: “This statement was manifestly untrue.”
In 2017 Comer got hit with a fine of over £40,000 for a number of breaches.
In that same year he got banned for six months after he refused permission for officials from the regulatory body to inspect his stables.
More to follow.
