The inquiry, which was initiated earlier and later postponed, was concluded yesterday. Present were Yeoh and syce Abd Razak bin Wasan and as registered owner Ismail bin Ahmad failed to appear after being notified, the matter was heard in his absence.

Razak pleaded guilty to a charge under MRA Rule 226 (a)(i). The particulars being that he, a licensed syce employed by Yeoh, on or about 8.30am on the February 15 at the stables of Yeoh at the SLTC, did on the instruction of Ismail, administer orally to QUICK START, a substance, which in the opinion of the Club Veterinary Surgeon, was not a normal item of diet of a racehorse in training. Such administration was unauthorised by the Club Veterinary Surgeon. Razak was disqualified for a period of six months with immediate effect.

Ismail was found guilty to a charge under MRA Rule 234 (B) for abetting Razak with the commission of a breach MRA Rule 226(a)(i). The particulars being that he instructed Razak on the morning of February 15, to administer to QUICK START a substance he had obtained, which in the opinion of the Club Veterinary Surgeon was not a normal item of diet of a racehorse in training. Such administration was unauthorised by the Veterinary Surgeon. Ismail was disqualified for a period of six months with immediate effect.

Ismail was also found guilty to a charge under MRA Rule 234(D)(i) for acting in a manner which in the opinion of the Stewards was prejudicial to the integrity of horse racing in Malaysia. The particulars being:

1) That at approximately 11.00am on February 15 at SLTC, he did approach Dr Shri Kanth (Senior Veterinary Surgeon SLTC) and proposed that the biological samples taken from QUICK START be excluded from being sent for analysis.

2) That on or about the afore-mentioned time and date, he further proposed to Dr Shri Kanth that he instruct Dr Elizabeth Tee to discard any biological sample taken from QUICK START.

Ismail bin Ahmad was disqualified for a period of one year with immediate effect. The Stewards ruled that the disqualifications for the three charges be served concurrently.

Yeoh, the trainer of QUICK START, pleaded guilty to a charge under MRA Regulation 37.1(a)(ii) for failing to report to the Stewards an instance of actual malpractice which may compromise the integrity of horseracing. The particulars being that he failed to report to the stewards after having being notified by Ismail on the morning of February 15 at approximately 9:45am, that the horse QUICK START had, prior to it competing in Official Trial No. 1 at the SLTC on the said day, been given a substance which had not been authorised by himself or the Club Veterinary Surgeon. Tony Yeoh was fined the sum of RM10,000.