Court rejects horse trainer's bid to pause suspension over alleged anti-doping rules breach

Cheltenham festival winner Tony Martin was given a three-month suspension by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board after a horse he trains failed a drugs test after winning in Dundalk in January 2023

At an original IHRB hearing last December, Tony Martin was fined €11,000 and given a six-month licence suspension that was suspended for two years. File picture

The High Court has refused horse trainer Tony Martin’s bid for a pause to a three-month suspension he received from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) for an alleged breach of anti-doping rules.

Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy rejected Mr Martin’s claims regarding the IHRB’s use of a UK barrister at his appeal of the temporary revocation of his trainer’s licence. The judge refused to permit the Co Meath-based trainer to further pursue his judicial review request for the suspension to be overturned.