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A champion greyhound has tested positive for cocaine on three separate occasions, it has emerged.

Traces of the drug benzoylecgonine, which is the principle metabolite of cocaine, were found in Clonbrien Hero in samples taken at a race at Cork Greyhound Stadium on June 24, July 1 and July 22.

They were taken as routine tests carried out by the Irish Greyhound Board(IGB) on the dog which is trained by Irish Derby winner Graham Holland.

Cocaine is understood to have the same effect on animals as it does on humans.

Mr Holland hit the headlines last December when his dog, Clares Rocket, was abducted from his kennels in Golden, Tipperary.

It was later recovered.

The July 22 test was carried out on Clonbrien Hero at the Laurels final which it won comfortably in 28 seconds.

It won the top prize of a staggering €30,000.

Speaking on RTE’s Morning Ireland, Chief Executive of the Irish Greyhound Board(IGB), Gerard Dollard, said any dog that tests positive cannot race again until it is passed clear and that any prize money won is frozen.

He said: “All sports, animal sports and human sports, have been grappling with the whole area of doping and medication and the Irish Greyhound Board and the greyhound industry is no different in relation to that.

“Over the last couple of the years the Greyhound Board have devoted considerable resources, if you like, to upping its game in relation to that.

“New regulations have been introduced to the extent that at this point in time any tests that are taken that do have results which are termed adverse analytical findings, are published and they are then sent to a control committee to investigate whether there is a case or not to answer.

“At this point in time in relation to Clonbrien Hero there has been adverse analytical findings, no further assumptions should be made beyond that and the case will now go forward to the control committee who are independent and will deal with the matter as they see fit.

“In the mean time it means that any dog that tests positive or shows up for an adverse analytical finding, any prize money that has been won is if you like frozen until the process is completed and the dog can’t race again until a clear test is evident from that dog.”

In a statement issued by the IGB, they said: “The Irish Greyhound Board, as part of its robust testing regime, publishes any adverse findings as they arise.

“Adverse analytical findings are reported by IGB to the Control Committee pursuant to the Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations with a request for the Control Committee to investigate the matter as provided for in legislation.

“IGB does not comment on individual cases which have been referred to the Control Committee and which may proceed to investigation. Decisions of the Control Committee may also be appealed.

“As part of its commitment to greater transparency in the area of anti-doping and medication control, IGB introduced secondary legislation in 2015 to provide for the publication of all adverse analytical findings in greyhound samples and to ensure the publication of the outcome from all cases before the Control Committee.

“Additionally in 2016, the Board introduced secondary legislation to provide for record keeping in relation to the use of medicines and the treatment of greyhounds, as well as powers to implement the off-track sampling of greyhounds for prohibited substances (whether in training or otherwise).”