Country Victorian trainer Brian Cox is facing a lengthy ban if found guilty of charges relating to the administration of an anabolic steroid, his conduct towards a steward and animal cruelty.
Racing Victoria stewards have issued 13 charges – four in the alternative – against the Wodonga-based Cox stemming from a stable inspection on March 10.
Members of RV’s Compliance Assurance Team found a white substance in an Ulcerguard container which was later analysed and identified as the oral paste Nitrotain.
Nitrotain contains Ethylestrenol, a prohibited anabolic androgenic steroid.
The use of anabolic androgenic steroids has been banned in thoroughbred racehorses in Australia since May 2014 and carry mandatory three-year bans.
Cox has been issued with four counts of administering, or causing to be administered, a banned substance for the purpose of affecting the performance of a horse in a race or preventing its starting in a race.
He has been charged with administering the banned substance to Minnie Downs and Baby Jack on August 17 and 21 last year.
Cox is also alleged to have physically manhandled steward Dion Villella during the stable inspection and forcibly pushing another steward and with giving false evidence.
The animal welfare charge arises from Cox presenting a horse for a jump-out on December 9, a day after he was given veterinary advice to rest the horse for two to three months because it had a serious leg injury.
