An independent body is set to oversee the policing of greyhound racing for doping offences. Dog racing industry body, Bord na gCon, announced yesterday that an independent control committee will investigate and sanction those involved when greyhounds test positive for drugs. Former Dublin football GAA manager Kevin Heffernan will chair the body.
Currently, a committee made up of board members does this work. Transferring these powers to an independent body was recommended in a review of the board carried out after a row over hearings into positive drug tests on dogs trained by Paul Hennessy and John Kiely.
The dispute led to the dismissal of then chief executive, Aidan Tynan, and the subsequent early resignation of former chairman, businessman Paschal Taggart. The row flared after the board's decision not to publish findings against Mr Hennessy and Mr Kiely, whose dogs tested positive for performance-enhancing protein, EPO.
Legislation underpinning the new regime will require that the board publish verdicts and fines.
Bord na gCon announced yesterday that it was appointing its head of information technology, and former Hewlett Packard manager, Adrian Neilan, to succeed Mr Tynan as chief executive.
Head of regulation Daniel O'Leary said that in 2006 less than 1 per cent of 5,600 dogs tested were found to have been given banned substances.
