Queensland trainer Nick Walsh withdraw appeal against 12-month disqualification over anabolic steroid charge
A Queensland trainer has withdrawn his appeal into a 12-month disqualification, in a case where an anabolic steroid had been detected in one of his horses.
Earlier this month, Rockhampton trainer Nick Walsh was slapped with a 12-month bans by racing stewards.
It related to the anabolic steroid Stanozolol being detected twice in out of competition testing and once in post race testing in the racehorse Sailor's Rum.
It is a landmark case, given that Racenet understands it is the first time Stanozolol has been detected in a Queensland thoroughbred racehorse since a total ban on anabolic steroids in racehorses was introduced in 2014.
Walsh was renowned for his outstanding career strike rate of 32 per cent – and in the 2022/23 season Walsh-trained horses won at an amazing strike rate of 42.7 per cent.
Walsh had lodged an appeal where he had been set to argue the 12-month penalty was excessive.
However, his legal counsel Gabe Hutchinson confirmed to Racenet on Wednesday that the trainer had signed papers to withdraw the appeal.
Walsh will step away from racing in the next 12 months and it is understood he has gained employment in another industry.
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