Leading Western Australian trainer Adam Durrant has been fined a total of $11,000 after two of his winners returned positive swabs to the prohibited substance dexamethasone.
The penalties were imposed following a Racing WA stewards’ inquiry into post-race urine samples taken from Fulmine and Fancy Red after their respective victories.
Dexamethasone was detected in samples collected from Fulmine following its win at Belmont on November 19, 2025, and from Fancy Red after its success at Ascot on February 7, 2026.
Durrant pleaded guilty to two breaches of Australian Rule of Racing 240(2) during the inquiry, which included evidence from Racing WA veterinary officials and a representative from ChemCentre.
Stewards fined Durrant $7,000 in relation to Fulmine and a further $4,000 over Fancy Red.
In addition to the financial penalties, both horses were disqualified under Australian Rule of Racing 240(1), resulting in the amendment of race placings and the redistribution of prizemoney.
When determining the penalty, stewards took into account Durrant’s guilty pleas, his cooperation throughout the investigation and his previous record regarding prohibited substances.
They also accepted evidence that the detected dexamethasone had been administered via nebuliser and noted the concentrations found in both horses were at the lower end of the scale.
Following the inquiry, Racing WA Head of Veterinary Services Dr Judith Medd recommended that trainers adopt a longer withdrawal period when administering dexamethasone via nebuliser before horses compete.
