Racing Victoria stewards have finalised disciplinary action against licensed trainer Matthew Brown following the detection of prohibited substances in Rip ‘N’ Rip after a race at Bendigo in July 2025.
Brown pleaded guilty to a charge under Australian Rule of Racing AR 240(2), which makes trainers responsible for ensuring horses presented to race are free of prohibited substances.
Post-race analysis of a urine sample collected from Rip ‘N’ Rip identified the presence of Formestane, 4-Hydroxytestosterone and 6a-Hydroxyandrost-4-Ene 3,17-Dione.
All three substances are classified under Prohibited List A of the Australian Rules of Racing.
After considering relevant Victorian Racing Tribunal precedents, stewards imposed a $6,000 fine on Brown.
Half of the penalty, amounting to $3,000, was suspended for a period of 12 months on the condition that Brown does not commit any further relevant offences during that time.
Stewards also exercised their powers under AR 240(1) to disqualify Rip ‘N’ Rip from the Bendigo race in which the post-race sample was taken.
