OXFORD greyhound trainer Maria Nierobisz has blamed knacker meat after she was fined £300 and severely reprimanded following two positive tests on her greyhound Go Far at Cowley.

Go Far was the subject of two random samples at Oxford on December 12 and 19 and both tests were returned positive by the appointed NGRC laboratory at Newmarket where a metabolite of the drug pentobarbital was detected.

On December 12, Go Far, starting at 9-2, was beaten a neck when finishing third in 28.23 on going 0.10 slow.

A week later, Go Far went off at 6-1 and was beaten a head when finishing runner-up in 27.93 on going 0.10 fast.

Miss Nierobisz told the stewards that Go Far was not on any medication. In explaining her kennel routine, she stated that she regularly fed knacker meat and suggested that the substance found in the greyhound's urine must have come through the food chain.

She said that she was aware of the directions of the stewards regarding the feeding of knacker meat, but was unsure whether the dog had had any within the previous 24-48 hour period.

The stewards found Miss Nierobisz in breach of rules 152(a) and (b) and 174 (a) (i) and ordered that she be severely reprimanded and fined £300.

Meanwhile, Go Far runs in the 8.35 tonight.

TRIAL sessions will now get under way at 10.00am on Monday mornings with kenneling at 9.00am. The racing office reckon it will help greyhounds who will not trial in the afternoon and also release the stadium for go-kart bookings on Mondays.

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