A doping charge hanging over a leading Hong Kong horse trainer has been thrown into doubt after the discovery that a Jockey Club- issued horse shampoo contains the offending substance.
Ivan Allan yesterday said he would boycott tomorrow's resumption of an inquiry into charges that his horse, Cheers Hong Kong, tested positive to the osmotic diuretic Isosorbide before he was scratched from the Hong Kong Gold Cup on February 23.
Mr Allan, who could face the first guilty finding of his 27-year career and a $150,000 fine, criticised the Jockey Club's veterinary department and chief vet, Keith Watkins, in particular.
'The persistent efforts of director of racing Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has revealed the source [of the Isosorbide] in a skin rash shampoo lotion, Imaverol, which is distributed by the Jockey Club with veterinary approval,' Mr Allan said. 'I have always maintained that, if Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges was the captain of the Titanic ... the iceberg would have sunk. This is yet another classic example of his precise management of racing.
'Dr Watkins, the expert witness, gave evidence that the Isosorbide was a prohibited substance under Rule 136 because it was an osmotic diuretic and acted on the horse's urinary system.
'Sadly, he did not know that the diuretic was spelt S-H-A-M-P-O-O and freely administered by his department. I will not be attending the inquiry scheduled for Thursday, because I will have two fingers for the panel that charged me and they will not be the victory sign.'