Racing: Racing's first EPO case hits Victoria

A Victorian trainer is under investigation after two of his racehorses tested positive to the banned substance EPO.

Racing Victoria Limited said it was the first case of a thoroughbred in Australia testing positive to EPO.

Victorian trotting trainer Alan Donohoe was last week disqualified for six years for giving a form of the blood-boosting drug to five of his horses.

RVL General Manager of Integrity Services Dayle Brown said yesterday he could not reveal details of the trainer until the results of a second sample were returned.

The out-of-competition tests were taken recently and the abnormalities were detected by the Hong Kong Jockey Club's laboratory.

Further analysis of the samples was being conducted by the Horse Racing Forensic Laboratory in the UK.

EPO increases endurance by boosting red blood cells which lift the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

The drug has rocked human endurance sports such as cycling.

Meanwhile, Harness Racing Victoria has informed two of its licensed trainers that the results of blood samples from two horses have also shown an irregularity to either Remcobinant Human Erythropoietin (rhEPO) or Derbepoetin Alpha (DPO).

It said the samples were undergoing further analysis.

- AAP