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The Referrals Committee, Mr Peter Allen (Chair), Mr Michael Sheehan and Mr Nick Wachman convened in the offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Thursday, 22 January 2026, to consider whether Mr Donnchadh Doyle (Handler) was in breach of the rules of racing as a result of a report received from LGC Laboratories, Fordham, UK.
The report received on 22 May 2025, confirmed that the urine sample taken from Kamille Au Kanada (FR) following the Goffs Property & Larkin Auctioneers Five Year Old Plus Mares Maiden on 4 May 2025 was confirmed by LGC Laboratories to contain testosterone.
The option of ‘B’ sample analysis was requested by Mr Doyle and the presence of testosterone was confirmed by LCH Laboratories, France on 20 June 2025.
Evidence was heard from Mr Doyle and Dr Lynn Hillyer, IHRB Chief Veterinary Officer. In her evidence, Dr Hillyer outlined how Mr Doyle fully cooperated with the IHRB Veterinary team upon learning of the report received from LGC Laboratories and removed the filly from an upcoming sale. Dr Hillyer confirmed that she spoke with Mr David Halley, Veterinary Surgeon, who had diagnosed a granulosa cell tumour on the left ovary of Kamille Au Kanada, accounting for the high level of testosterone, and that following removal of the tumour a later test confirmed that the filly’s testosterone had returned to a normal level.
In his evidence, Mr Doyle accepted the evidence presented by the IHRB. Mr Doyle described how he has been training horses for the last 15 years with more than 300 winners. Mr Doyle stated that the evidence was that the high levels of testosterone was naturally occurring and this was not something he was aware of prior to the race in question.
Having considered the evidence the Referrals Committee were satisfied that Mr Doyle was in breach of Regulation96(iii), in that there was a prohibited substance in the horse on raceday and they disqualified Kamille Au Kanada from the race, ordered the placings to be altered accordingly and the stake forfeited.
The amended result of the Goffs Property & Larkin Auctioneers Five Year Old Plus Mares Maiden now reads:
First: First Now You See Me
Second: Kano De Thaix (FR)
The case was presented by Ms Christine Traynor BL, IHRB Head of Racing Regulation and Integrity.