RV appeals leniency of Liam Birchley’s ban

Racing Victoria is appealing the leniency of Queensland trainer Liam Birchley’s one-year ban over the Aquanita race day treatments case.

Birchley and Victorian trainer Tony Vasil, who was outed for three years, continue training while they appeal their disqualifications in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

RV lodged its own appeal with VCAT on Thursday, arguing Birchley’s penalty was too lenient.

Birchley and Vasil were among eight people disqualified over the Aquanita race day treatment scandal.

Trainer Robert Smerdon and stablehands Greg and Denise Nelligan were all banned for life, with Smerdon also hit with a $90,000 fine.

Victoria’s Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board declared the long-running systematic conspiracy to cheat using “top-ups” of sodium bicarbonate as the biggest scandal and one of the darkest chapters in Australian racing history.

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