Greyhound’s Positive Meth Test Raises Questions After Victory

A greyhound named Hilton Hustler tested positive for methamphetamine following a recent victory at Addington Raceway, leaving its trainer, Craig Anderson, and racing officials puzzled about how the dog could have been contaminated. The unexpected result has prompted a thorough investigation, as Anderson, who has been training greyhounds since 2017, maintains he has never been in contact with the drug.

Investigators from the Racing Integrity Board arrived at Anderson’s property to conduct drug screenings on his six greyhounds. Despite the positive test for Hilton Hustler, forensic samples taken from Anderson, his wife, the dogs’ kennel area, and his vehicle returned negative results. Notably, Hilton Hustler had tested clear both a week prior and two weeks after the positive result, raising further questions about the integrity of the testing process.

In the past year, Anderson has participated in hundreds of races, with his dogs undergoing drug testing a total of 22 times. He has not encountered any breaches regarding prohibited substances in his racing career. During discussions with investigators, Anderson stated that only kennel staff and handlers interacted with Hilton Hustler in the two to three days leading up to the positive test.

Despite the absence of evidence linking Anderson to the drug, a charge was filed against him before the Racing Integrity Board. A hearing took place in December 2023 at Addington Raceway, yet no penalty was pursued due to the lack of incriminating evidence against him. Investigators noted that the concentration of methamphetamine found in Hilton Hustler’s system was relatively low, at just 0.7 ng/mL, and 3 ng/mL of amphetamine. For context, the international standard for a positive drug test in humans is 300 ng/mL.

The Racing Integrity Board acknowledged the low levels of the substances found and Anderson’s previously clean record. They stated, “The Adjudicative Committee is satisfied that neither Mr nor Mrs Anderson was in any way responsible for the Prohibited Substances that were found in the out-of-competition urine sample that was taken from their greyhound.”

While presenting a greyhound with prohibited substances in its system is considered an offence of strict liability, the board emphasized that a finding of no negligence could lead to a reduced penalty or even no fine at all. This case highlights the complexities involved in maintaining integrity within the sport and the challenges faced by trainers when unexpected results arise. The investigation continues as racing officials seek to understand how Hilton Hustler may have been affected by methamphetamine.