When asked in the Dail who sets threshold limits Head of Governance and Compliance stated that it was the Laboratories who decided on the threshold limits, Why would this new Bill give powers to IGB to set new threshold limits when it is the Labs that set the thresholds ? which lab set the threshold for Morphine? and if IGB get this powers they could set a threshold for EPO also to protect certain elements, we need clarification on who sets threshold limits the labs or the IGB, It was not the lab who set the threshold for morphine but the IGB.

Maybe to many risks or complications for data but would be great to be informed of what you were actually buying

New Regulations Department required also.
While we welcome the introduction of this new and long overdue equipment into the limerick lab it is essential that we have a Regulations Department who can be trusted to deliver what this new equipment finds and not what the IGB feel is relevant for us to hear, if there are no changes in this department this new addition to the lab will be a complete waste of tax payers money IMO.

Hi Peter, GD will always help in any way we possibly can.

MIDAS was established in October 2015 at the initiative of the Irish Greyhound Board, and comprises of Senior Level Executives from Horse Sport Ireland (HSI), Irish Greyhound Board (IGB), Irish Turf Club (ITC), Sport Ireland, State Laboratory and the Investigations Division of the Department of Agriculture.

The Tackling Doping in Sport Summit brings together key stakeholders from the world of anti-doping whose perspectives and experiences are varied and wide rangingThe focus will be on information sharing benefits in animal sport investigations and how a collaborative mechanism yields greater results.

This marks another important stepping stone towards a unified approach in the regulation of anti-doping and medication control for Horse and Greyhound sports working in conjunction with the drugs enforcement authorities in Ireland. This is the first time the regulatory and anti-doping of animal sports are to be discussed at this international event which until now has focused on human sports.

Does this mean that the greyhound industry will see new guidelines issued where doping of dogs is concerned ? time will tell.

The Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) has decided that the finding of Pentobarbitone metabolite, in the absence of the parent drug, will no longer constitute the basis for an adverse analytical finding. The decision follows a scientific and analytical review.

Pentobarbitone is a short acting barbiturate which when administered leads to depression of the central nervous system leading to respiratory arrest and subsequent cardiac failure. In Ireland it is an authorised animal remedy available only to Veterinary Practitioners for use in the euthanasia of animals. It is also controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts. While the parent drug can affect the performance of a greyhound, the metabolite in question is not pharmacologically active and does not have an effect on performance, according to the research literature available.
The IGB ruling follows a similar decision by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) to reclassify Pentobarbitone following its review of an increasing number of cases in which low levels of Pentobarbital metabolites had been detected and following a scientific and regulatory assessment of the matters arising. The review concluded that the reason for such cases was contamination of food sources coupled with the very sensitive analytical methods in use today. Of note was the prolonged period during which such metabolites could now be detected following exposure to the contaminated food source, amounting to several weeks following consumption of the contaminated food. The levels in question are very low levels, in the order of parts per billion of Pentobarbitone metabolites in a millilitre of urine sampled.
Once news of the GBGB policy change became available to IGB, the matter was discussed at the Regulation Committee and by the Board. The issue was referred to the IGB Scientific Advisory Committee, and the analytical issues were discussed with the State Laboratory.
The most likely source of Pentobarbitone in greyhounds is from the feeding of meat derived from farm animals or horses which have been euthanized with Pentobarbitone. From now on, Pentobarbitone metabolite will be treated as a feed contaminant which does not affect the performance of a greyhound. However, the presence of the parent drug in samples will remain an adverse analytical finding which will lead to disciplinary proceedings before the Control Committee.
Arising from this change in policy, IGB will now review any case currently pending before the Control Committee (and the Control Appeal Committee) in which the metabolite (in the absence of the parent drug) had been detected. Where no other transgressions are asserted by the IGB such cases will be withdrawn and any prize money due will be paid out.
The Scientific Advisory Committee will continue its examination of Pentobarbitone and will advise IGB of any developments, which in its view, would warrant further refinement of this policy.
IGB has issued advisories about the risks posed by, and the precautions to be taken in, the feeding of meat to greyhounds. Where such meat derives from livestock which have been treated with veterinary medicines, the risk of adverse analytical findings is always a possibility. This risk was addressed in IGBs Guidance to all Industry Participants on the risks of feeding meat to Racing Greyhounds published in November 2015.
Bord na gCon
31st March 2017

Pentobarbitone is a short acting barbiturate which when administered leads to depression of the central nervous system leading to respiratory arrest and subsequent cardiac failure. In Ireland it is an authorised animal remedy available only to Veterinary Practitioners for use in the euthanasia of animals. It is also controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts. While the parent drug can affect the performance of a greyhound, the metabolite in question is not pharmacologically active and does not have an effect on performance, according to the research literature available.
The IGB ruling follows a similar decision by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) to reclassify Pentobarbitone following its review of an increasing number of cases in which low levels of Pentobarbital metabolites had been detected and following a scientific and regulatory assessment of the matters arising. The review concluded that the reason for such cases was contamination of food sources coupled with the very sensitive analytical methods in use today. Of note was the prolonged period during which such metabolites could now be detected following exposure to the contaminated food source, amounting to several weeks following consumption of the contaminated food. The levels in question are very low levels, in the order of parts per billion of Pentobarbitone metabolites in a millilitre of urine sampled.
Once news of the GBGB policy change became available to IGB, the matter was discussed at the Regulation Committee and by the Board. The issue was referred to the IGB Scientific Advisory Committee, and the analytical issues were discussed with the State Laboratory.
The most likely source of Pentobarbitone in greyhounds is from the feeding of meat derived from farm animals or horses which have been euthanized with Pentobarbitone. From now on, Pentobarbitone metabolite will be treated as a feed contaminant which does not affect the performance of a greyhound. However, the presence of the parent drug in samples will remain an adverse analytical finding which will lead to disciplinary proceedings before the Control Committee.
Arising from this change in policy, IGB will now review any case currently pending before the Control Committee (and the Control Appeal Committee) in which the metabolite (in the absence of the parent drug) had been detected. Where no other transgressions are asserted by the IGB such cases will be withdrawn and any prize money due will be paid out.
The Scientific Advisory Committee will continue its examination of Pentobarbitone and will advise IGB of any developments, which in its view, would warrant further refinement of this policy.
IGB has issued advisories about the risks posed by, and the precautions to be taken in, the feeding of meat to greyhounds. Where such meat derives from livestock which have been treated with veterinary medicines, the risk of adverse analytical findings is always a possibility. This risk was addressed in IGBs Guidance to all Industry Participants on the risks of feeding meat to Racing Greyhounds published in November 2015.
Bord na gCon
31st March 2017

Holland said: The rumour mill will start with people who want to bury me and I would like the truth to come out immediately. The dog has a major problem cleaning himself, his father was the same. I was worried about him and spoke to Nick (Savva) who said that Buscopan was particularly effective with dogs that cant pea. Bobby was really struggling so I gave him a dose.

The drug obviously stayed in his system for a whole week and I bitterly regret giving it to him. But there was nothing sinister or cruel, quite the opposite. It was a welfare issue for a drug that would have no effect whatsoever on his performance on the track.

Obviously there will be an inquiry, but I hope it leads to a wider debate. Should we be allowed to apply for permission from the veterinary steward to use drugs like Buscopan if it is in the dogs best interest. I am absolutely gutted for the owner who has taken it in his stride, but I feel so sorry for him.

Mr Holland must be the unluckiest trainer around, he (once) used knacker meet to feed his TOP dogs which contained residues of Pentobarbital, (All the small men use knacker meat with no pentobarbital) that was very unfortunate, now he has a dog who he claims has a MAJOR cleaning problem, not very nice for the poor dog , I have one my self and used Buscopan tablet form and was told this has a 3-4 day withdrawal period not a full week, again how unfortunate for Grahame to administer a (DOSE) that obviously was different to other types of Buscopan, Mr Holland was quick to defend himself before (The rumour mill)starts, Would Mr Holland care to tell us how did he managed Garryvoe Bobby's problem here in Ireland when he raced on Irish soil??? Top trainer in Ireland and he has to ask Nick Sava how to treat the dog,???
Holland said: The rumour mill will start with people who want to bury me, No need for others to Bury you Mr Holland You are doing a great Job on your own. Come home man less hassle here IMO.

Holland was quick to inform the greyhound star and Talking Dogs regarding his positive, How long before he explains how the dog was able to run in Ireland with this problem? This is more bad news for our Regulations Department.

We have to wait and see what the inquiry says,

However what was wrong with Pearl Barley r even NUTRIDEX in the breakfast every morning?.

Proffessor MORRIS needs to come over here and TEST this so called "NEW MACHINE in the LIMERICK LAB as you could not believe this crowd.

Im sure IGB would welcome him over with OPEN ARMS.

Now is the time to put this new machine to the test and put a stop to the serious drug issues which have played a massive part in destroying the Integrity of greyhound racing in Ireland, The chairman states (we wont allow a small minority of owners or trainers to jeopardise our industry or our sport) (The IGB have allowed this to happen for years) To achieve your goal Mr chairman the IGB have to be seen to be open and transparent when testing takes place, Test the right people and test EVERY ROUND of major classics including the Derby this is long overdue and must take place if we are to go forward and eliminate the cheats no more excuses you have the machine so use it.JMO