Trainer under drugs cloud

By Stuart Teather
FIVEWAYS trainer Richard Laming is embroiled in a doping scandal after two of his horses returned irregular drug tests, recently.
On Friday, Racing Victoria released a statement confirming a trainer – later revealed to be Richard Laming – had two horses return irregular tests to EPO.
EPO, or Erythropoietin, is used in sport as a performance enhancer, helping to improve the red blood cell count, which improves the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.
The results came from out-of-competition tests, which were carried out at Laming’s stable.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Laboratory later confirmed the results, and further tests are currently underway in the United Kingdom.
Laming denied the allegations, telling the News his horses were drug-free.
“I haven’t used a drug,” he said.
“We’re just waiting for the results back from the UK and that’s about where we’re at, there’s nothing really to say.”
The trainer faces a nervous wait until the results come back, though he said he was doing well.
“I’m fine,” he said.
“Until the tests come back, we don’t really know where we’re going.”
Laming is a recent addition to the Cranbourne racing scene, having formed a partnership with his highly-regarded father Bevan, who runs a racing operation in Queensland.
The results of the tests in the UK are expected by early next week.