Queensland Racing Integrity Commission has banned Mount Isa jockey Ric McMahon after stewards used DNA to prove he had tampered with a urine sample.
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QRIC said their inquiry concluded into McMahon's supposed urine samples taken at Mount Isa on August 8, 2019 and Townsville on September 3, 2019.
McMahon was found guilty of refusing or faling"to deliver a sample as directed by the Stewards, tampers with, adulterates, substitutes, or in any way hinders the collection of a sample or attempts to do any of those things".
The QRIC said McMahon substituted a sample of urine at either the Mount Isa or Townsville meets.
The QRIC said urine samples were important as it served as a safeguard for riders against banned substances.
"It strikes at the very heart of the process when a sample of urine purported to be from an individual is found by DNA testing not to be the case," they said.
"The difference in the DNA profile of the urine samples taken from Ric McMahon...were a clear and premeditated attempt to deceive the Stewards and the penalty imposed for such breach must be severe to serve as a specific deterrent to him and a general deterrent to the wider industry to illustrate that this deception will not be tolerated".
The Stewards took into account McMahon's submissions about personal circumstances and the financial impact a significant penalty would have plus the fact there was a shortfall of riders in the Mount Isa area.
With McMahon stood down since September 25, 2019, the 15 month disqualification will expire midnight December 25, 2020 and he must provide a urine sample free of any banned substances prior to being permitted to ride again.
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