Jockey accused of tainting urine sample to conceal drugs

Lisa Cropp

The country's top jockey, Lisa Cropp, has been accused of trying to conceal methamphetamine in her body by contaminating a urine sample.

Cropp, who reached the pinnacle as a jockey last weekend, is facing a drugs hearing before the racing industry's Judicial Control Authority after testing positive for the illegal drug.

Cropp had been selected for drug-testing at the Te Rapa races on May 7 because she had failed to produced a urine sample when selected for testing in January.

"[She] took quite extraordinary steps to defeat the testing by attempting to dilute her urine and by introducing foreign material into the sample in an attempt to contaminate it," said Crown Solicitor Simon Moore, opening the case for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.

On the day Cropp's sample was taken she took "deliberate steps ... to foil the tests, to frustrate the tests, so that they would not reveal what they [the tests] did".

Hair and vegetable substance, possibly straw, was found in the sample but did not affect the result.

The hearing was told the levels of the drug detected indicated Cropp had taken methamphetamine in the "two to four days" before her sample was taken.

Cropp denies using methamphetamine or any drug banned by the racing industry.

Methamphetamine, a class A banned drug, can act as a stimulant and an appetite suppressant.

It has been claimed to cause volatility and has been linked with some violent crime, notably the murders of pizza worker Marcus Doig and bank teller John Vaughan in armed robberies in Auckland in 2002 by drug-user Ese Junior Falealii.

Methamphetamine is alleged to have been traded in a drug network in which the names of celebrities arose last month, though the two named in court documents are alleged to be associated with Ecstasy, in one case, and cocaine and cannabis in the other.

Superintendent Ted Cox said at the time of the bust that it was further indication amphetamine-type stimulant drugs were used by people from all walks of life.

Cropp faces a hearing before the authority on alternative charges that, in breach of racing industry rules, she rode in races on May 7 with methamphetamine in her system, and that a urine sample she gave that day tested positive for the drug.

If either charge is proved, she could be banned from riding for 12 months and fined $10,000.

It would not affect her premiership record or her three winning rides on the day that she gave the sample.

Mr Moore said methamphetamine and amphetamine were present in Cropp's sample at several times the threshold level. Amphetamine was present because it was a metabolite that formed as the body processed methamphetamine.

On being informed of the positive test, Cropp denied taking methamphetamine and said she had not been to any recent parties or associated with anyone who might be using illegal drugs.

She was on prescribed diet pills Duromine and Sudomyl and was also taking penicillin.

Mr Moore said although Sudomyl contained pseudoephedrine, which can be used in manufacturing methamphetamine, it was not possible for methamphetamine to appear in urine as a result of taking Sudomyl.

Cropp had taken deliberate steps to frustrate the tests, Mr Moore said, because she knew what her urine contained and knew the consequences.

Te Rapa course inspector Bryan McKenzie said Cropp weighed in 0.5kg overweight for a race ride and Thoroughbred Racing alleges this was because she was trying to dilute her urine by consuming water.

Cropp's lawyer, Barry Hart, challenged the adequacy of the caution Cropp was given before making a written statement on being informed of her positive test.

Lawyers and the two-man Judicial Control Authority committee spent much of yesterday debating legal issues in chambers. It is understood Cropp's lawyers will challenge the efficacy of the testing process.

The case, being heard at the Auckland Racing Club, is expected to last five days and continues tomorrow.

Lisa Cropp

* Waikato jockey, aged 33.
* Won the jockey's premiership last weekend.
* Broke the record for the number of wins in a season with 197 victories, passing Lance O'Sullivan's mark of 193 wins.
* Returned to racing in July last year after breaking her neck in a fall in Macau.