Non-Raceday Inquiry – R Reti-Mathieson

hearingid: f0ff044abdc9775ca6a31310c5da9674

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hearing_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing

startdate: 01/01/2001

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hearing_title: Non-Raceday Inquiry - R Reti-Mathieson

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The charge is as follows:        "That on Thursday the 30^th day of March 2006 at the Cambridge Jockey Club Training Centre, that Mr Reti-Mathieson, being a rider, who having been requested by a Racecourse Inspector to supply a sample of his urine which was found upon analysis, to contain the controlled drug cannabis

Judicial Committee: Messrs R M Seabrook (Chairman), E Doherty

Informant: Mr B McKenzie

Defendant: Mr R Reti-Mathieson

Registrar: Mrs P C Laboyrie

The charge is as follows:

"That on Thursday the 30^th day of March 2006 at the Cambridge Jockey Club Training Centre, that Mr Reti-Mathieson, being a rider, who having been requested by a Racecourse Inspector to supply a sample of his urine which was found upon analysis, to contain the controlled drug cannabis as defined in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, committed a breach of Rule 528(1) of the New Zealand Rules of Racing AND THAT you are therefore liable to the penalty or penalties which may be imposed upon you pursuant to the provisions of Rule 1003(1) of the said Rules."

Racecourse Inspector, Mr J McKenzie, then presented a summary of facts. In the summary he said that on the 30^th March 2006 NZTR officials conducted drug testing at the Cambridge Training Centre. Six riders ultimately submitted urine samples, one of which was the defendant, Mr R Reti-Mathieson. This sample was forwarded to the ESR laboratory in Wellington. On the 3^rd April 2006 the ESR advised that the sample of Mr Reti-Mathieson was positive to cannabinoids. He was advised of this on 3^rd April 2006 by the Racecourse Inspector and stood down from riding trackwork until he supplied a clear sample.

The defendant admitted to the Inspector he had consumed cannabis within 24 hours prior to being tested. He knew it was against the Rules of Racing to ride with the drug in his system. He had not given the matter any thought. He had consumed the cannabis as part of his recreational activities.

He expressed his apology for his actions and also for the embarrassment he had caused those persons in racing with whom he had a close association and to whom he owed a lot.

Mr Reti-Mathieson in his submissions said he had been in racing since he was a kid and it was all he was good at. He admitted taking the wrong path in taking cannabis and was regretful and remorseful of his actions. He was not financially sound and track riding was his sole income. He rode work for several well known people and was worried about their reactions.

Mr McKenzie said that it was normal in the case of track riders to be penalised by way of a fine, but it was still important to maintain the integrity of racing and the need for a profile of a clean sport. However, in this case as Mr Reti-Mathieson did not have a lot of money, he submitted a fine of $300 and $135 payable to the ESR would be appropriate.

The Committee did not make an order for name suppression as requested, but pointed out to Mr Reti-Mathieson that his fears would be respected regarding his employers and we did not expect him to suffer any loss of riding work in the future.

We accepted Mr McKenzie's submissions on penalty and agree a monetary penalty is appropriate. We have taken into account Mr Reti-Mathieson's honesty, remorse and regret over the charge. We pointed out to him that hopefully this would be a wake-up call for him and he could move forward from here. Accordingly we impose a fine of $300 and in addition order $135 to be paid to the ESR for their testing costs.

R M Seabrook                                                             E Doherty

CHAIRMAN

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hearing_type: Old Hearing

Rules: 528.1, 1003.1

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