Dog that failed drug test up for Bord award
Trained by Paul Hennessy, Heart Rumble tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone when running in a puppy event at Sunderland. However, Heart Rumble would not have been found positive in Ireland if racing on nandrolone.
An anabolic steroid and performance-enhancing drug which is almost universally banned, nandrolone is permitted in greyhound racing here, where it is widely used to suppress bitches from coming into season.
At the time, Heart Rumble was owned by the Micheál Agus A Cairde Syndicate which included RTÉ radio commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
When the failed test in England was known, Ó Muircheartaigh ceased to be an owner of the dog, which then went into the ownership of a new syndicate but continued to be trained by Hennessy.
On the basis that the drug was not prohibited by Bord na gCon, Heart Rumble returned to Ireland and his Gowran, Co Kilkenny kennel and competed in the 2005 Produce Stakes at Clonmel, an event recognised as a Classic by Bord na gCon.
Heart Rumble, whose owners at the time also included Pat O'Donovan, the former RTÉ radio producer and now manager of Harold's Cross stadium, has enjoyed an active career since.
Heart Rumble is registered to the 'Have A Nice Day Syndicate' of which Ó Muircheartaigh is not a member. O'Donovan's share is now held by his wife Breda.
Trainer Paul Hennessy gained further notoriety when his greyhound Barefoot Jenny tested positive for EPO.
That finding was kept from the public by Bord na gCon, a decision which led to the departure of chief executive Aidan Tynan and chairman Paschal Taggart.
Hennessy appeared in February at a Co Kilkenny court and was fined in relation to the importation of animal drugs.
Heart Rumble is among the nominees for the Bord na gCon-sponsored Greyhound of the Year awards in the 2006 marathon category.
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue is expected to make the presentations to the category winners at the Killashee House Hotel in Naas on Sunday, April 29.
Mr O'Donoghue, a generous benefactor to the sport, is likely to be displeased at the presence of Heart Rumble in the list.
He appointed Tim Dalton, a former secretary at the Department of Justice, to review the conduct of Bord na gCon in the past decade.
Many of the recommendations in the Dalton Report hinged on the need for the sport and the semi-State body to distance themselves from drug abuse.
The follow-on was the appointment of Dublin football legend Kevin Heffernan as head of the Bord na gCon control committee.
Shortlist
The selection panel which included Heart Rumble on their shortlist was chaired by Frank O'Connell, a ministerial appointee to Bord na gCon.
However, Bord na gCon yesterday stressed that neither O'Connell nor Bord na gCon deputy chief executive DJ Histon, who also sat in on the deliberations, voted.
Among those who did vote were Ó Muircheartaigh, who is no longer an owner, and RTÉ television commentator Michael Fortune.
In a statement, Bord na gCon say: "The selection process took place on 22nd March last and results collated at Shelbourne Park.
"The panel members are Michael Fortune, Declan O'Donoghue, Eddie Anderson, Tom Aherne and Michael Ó Muircheartaigh. The chairman of the committee is Frank O'Connell.
"DJ Histon is also a member of the committee. Both Frank O'Connell and DJ Histon did not have voting rights.
"Each of the voting panel members makes their nominations and, based on these nominations, the top three greyhounds in each category are announced, with the winner announced on the awards night."
- John Martin
