RV stewards overturn Hamblin suspension
Jumps jockey Paul Hamblin has had a charge and suspension for testing over the allowed alcohol limit set aside by stewards.
Racing Victoria is reviewing its arrangements with its alcohol testing service provider after wrong information was provided to stewards during an inquiry at Warrnambool last week.
Hamblin and Damien Oliver were suspended after failing breath tests on the final day of the three-day carnival.
After a first test of 0.033, Hamblin’s second reading 15 minutes later was 0.022 and the service provider informed stewards that a 0.005 per cent of uncertainty had been incorporated into the figure.
However a review of the testing device it was found the uncertainty had not been calibrated and Hamblin’s second reading should have been 0.017, under the permitted 0.02 limit.
Oliver’s second reading of 0.035 would have come down to 0.03, but it was still above the limit and his suspension stands.
“We are extremely disappointed that the testing and reporting was not carried out as required, despite repeated assurances from the third party service provider that the measurement of uncertainty was taken into account,” chief steward Terry Bailey said in a statement.