The case of Balnaslow, who won the 2018 Aintree Foxhunters’ Chase, has taken 973 days to be concluded, and highlights why it is so important to read the rules of the equestrian sport in which you compete. H&H reports on the disciplinary hearing
A DOPING case that resulted in a major title changing hands 973 days on highlights the importance of being aware of sport rules.
Northern Ireland-based trainer Graham McKeever escaped a suspension and was fined £1,500 on 9 December, in relation to a urine sample containing a banned substance was taken from Balnaslow, who was first past the post in the 2018 Aintree Foxhunters’ Chase.
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"}
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H&H senior news writer
Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.