Harness trainer outed for 10 years
Harness racing trainer Dean Atkinson has been disqualified for 10 years for paying a steward not to drug test his horses.
2012-01-31T06:29:00+11:0031st January 2012, 6:29 am
SYDNEY, Jan 31 AAP - Harness racing trainer Dean Atkinson has been disqualified for 10 years for paying a steward not to drug test his horses.
Atkinson was outed by the special panel set up by Harness Racing NSW to investigate corruption within the industry in tandem with an ongoing police investigation.
The trainer was found guilty of three charges of corruptly giving former HRNSW steward Mathew Bentley a monetary reward on two occasions to ensure The Reluctant Dancer was not tested and another relating to The Open.
Atkinson pleaded guilty at the hearing on January 12 to the charges relating to races the horses contested in May last year.
His disqualification begins from November 25, 2011 when he was stood down by HRNSW.
Five people including former steward Paul O'Toole have been arrested in relation to corruption in the harness racing industry which came to light in August.
O'Toole and Bentley resigned at that time amid the allegations some stewards were not ordering swabs from certain horses in certain races, to the knowledge of other participants of the practice.
O'Toole has been charged by police with a total of 38 counts of allegedly receiving or attempting to receive benefits through corruption.
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Atkinson was outed by the special panel set up by Harness Racing NSW to investigate corruption within the industry in tandem with an ongoing police investigation.
The trainer was found guilty of three charges of corruptly giving former HRNSW steward Mathew Bentley a monetary reward on two occasions to ensure The Reluctant Dancer was not tested and another relating to The Open.
Atkinson pleaded guilty at the hearing on January 12 to the charges relating to races the horses contested in May last year.
His disqualification begins from November 25, 2011 when he was stood down by HRNSW.
Five people including former steward Paul O'Toole have been arrested in relation to corruption in the harness racing industry which came to light in August.
O'Toole and Bentley resigned at that time amid the allegations some stewards were not ordering swabs from certain horses in certain races, to the knowledge of other participants of the practice.
O'Toole has been charged by police with a total of 38 counts of allegedly receiving or attempting to receive benefits through corruption.
Click the "like" button on the Punters Paradise Facebook page to receive our news directly to your facebook feed, along with extra photos, discussions, newsletters, free tips and special betting offers.
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