THE Victorian Racing Tribunal on Wednesday suspended Colac trainer Bill Cerchi for two months after his galloper Backstreet Alley returned a positive swab to Frusemide (a diuretic) following a race at Warrnambool on December 31, 2019.
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The presence of Frusemide was detected in the blood sample by Racing Analytical Services Limited and by the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory.
Cerchi, who has been training for more than 43 years without a blemish to his record, said he was glad the hearing was behind him.
"I made an honest mistake and I confessed to it," Cerchi told The Standard.
"I realised my mistake two days after the stewards spoke to me and I put my hand up.
"It's been a nerve-racking experience just waiting for the hearing. It's the first black mark I've had against my name in over 43 years as a trainer.
"The Racing Victoria stewards and integrity team have been very fair to me and I think that's because I got on the front foot and admitted my mistake."
Cerchi can resume training on October 5.
