In Suli v Queensland Racing Integrity Commission [2024] QCAT 149, Andrew George Suli, a licensed greyhound trainer, faced the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) following his application for a review of penalties imposed on him for doping offenses. The case centered on two greyhounds trained by Suli, Lines and Rockstar Lincoln, who competed in races at Rockhampton Greyhound Racing Club in October 2021 and were found with elevated levels of Cobalt in their systems, exceeding the permitted threshold. Suli was initially charged under the Greyhounds Australasia Rules for presenting the greyhounds with prohibited substances, leading to a 12-month license suspension for each charge, with six months suspended for 12 months, to be served concurrently.
Suli argued that the elevated Cobalt levels resulted from a commercial dog food product, asserting it was not his fault. He sought to have no penalty imposed, comparing his situation to other cases and emphasizing his financial hardships and the impact on his family and his longstanding interest in greyhound racing. The Tribunal, led by Member Kent, rejected Suli's appeal, affirming the initial penalties. It was determined that Suli had failed to take adequate care in ensuring his dogs were free of prohibited substances, highlighting the importance of maintaining integrity and public confidence in greyhound racing.
From the TLDR Caselaw Archive