Trainer Michael Peterson incurred the full wrath of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain when he was given an indefinite ban and a £5,000 fine.

This week’s verdict follows positive tests on the greyhounds in his care, Buckfast Kid and Babbette at Romford and Hall Green respectively, during February and March this year.

The urine samples analysed at a special GBGB hearing contained timolol, which he allowed to be administered, that could affect the performance or well-being of the greyhounds.

The dual champion trainer at Oxford did not attend the hearing.

He failed to offer any explanation for the positive samples and did not reply to a letter of April 17 by the GRA’s director of regulation, which contained a specific request for information.

The disciplinary committee found that Peterson deliberately administered timolol with the intention of impairing the performance of the two greyhounds.

It was deemed this could also have caused unnecessary suffering.

The committee ruled that they were deliberate breaches committed with profit as the motive, which “might seriously undermine public confidence in greyhound racing and compromise the welfare of these greyhounds”.

The disciplinary committee ordered that Peterson be warned off indefinitely and fined £2,500 for each incident, leaving him £5,000 out of pocket.

Peterson had announced in February his intentions to resign, citing that he wanted to spend more time with his family.

The whole business is a real shame, because I have never seen anyone keener when he became one of the youngest trainers ever at Oxford.

He had a good kennel, a go-ahead attitude, and plenty of loyal owners.

It was a pity it had to end like this.