Moody denies peptide use

By Mike Hedge

MELBOURNE, May 7 AAP - Victoria's premier trainer Peter Moody has moved to confront speculation he may be under investigation by racing authorities over the use of peptides on racehorses.

Moody, who was mentioned by British racing figures in the wake of the steroid case that has rocked the sport in the UK, unequivocally denied on Tuesday that his horses, including the champion mare Black Caviar, had ever been given synthetic peptides.

He had earlier rejected suggestions steroids had ever been administered to Black Caviar.

Moody said he had been contacted in relation to a story on peptide use in racing that appeared in Fairfax Media on Sunday, but said he had not been spoken to or contacted by authorities.

He said he felt compelled to further defend himself in the face of suggestions made on RSN radio in Melbourne that "some of the biggest and best-known stables in the land" are under investigation over the use of synthetic peptides that are at the centre of the scandal that has enveloped the AFL and NRL.

"I can categorically say that I've never used the drugs they are talking about on any horse," Moody said.

"I can also say I wouldn't know the person they say was involved in supplying the drugs to trainers if he was sitting on the bonnet of my car."

Fairfax named Victorian trainer Dean Binaisse as a trainer under investigation over the suspected use of synthetic peptides in horses, including the anti-obesity drug given to some Essendon AFL players.

No horse trained by Binaisse or any other trainer in Victoria has tested positive to synthetic peptides.

The report said the activities of a "very prominent trainer" have been examined by the Australian Crime Commission, police or racing authorities in connection with the use of controversial supplements.

It went on to say that racing authorities have "strong suspicions about the trainer's practices", but drug tests have so far failed to reveal any use of synthetic peptides.