RICHARD WHELAN AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN DOPING SCANDAL AT ORMSKIRK GREYHOUND RACING KENNELS

In a significant crackdown on illegal doping within the greyhound racing industry, Richard Whelan, a trainer based in Ormskirk, along with four kennel-hands, has been found guilty of administering banned substances to racing dogs. The conviction stems from a detailed investigation into the practices at Chips Farm Kennels, located on Southport Road in Scarisbrick, Ormskirk L40 8HE.

Whelan, born around 1980, was found to have routinely supplied ten of his greyhounds with a variety of prohibited drugs, including sedatives intended for pigs, birth control pills, and Viagra. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) confirmed that Whelan, along with kennel staff Gary Morley, Barry Murphy, Ian Orr, and Jake Parkinson, have all been disqualified indefinitely from working with racing greyhounds as a result of their involvement in this doping scheme.

The investigation revealed that a sample taken from a greyhound named Skywalker Stevie, which competed at the Hall Green track in Birmingham, tested positive for Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. This drug is believed to give racing dogs an unfair advantage by increasing blood pressure and heart rate during the initial stages of a race, thereby enhancing their performance.

Further testing uncovered that nine other dogs under Whelan’s care had also been doped. Among these, seven had ingested norethisterone, a hormone found in birth control pills used to suppress estrogen levels in female dogs, allowing them to continue racing while in heat. Additionally, three dogs had been given pig sedatives capable of slowing them down, potentially manipulating race outcomes. One notable case involved Leonas Lark, a champion racer, which tested positive for minoxidil, a substance used in men's hair loss treatments like Regaine, known for its performance-boosting properties.

The investigation also uncovered pills used for treating malaria in humans and cramp in dogs during a raid in 2017 at The Kennels, a facility that is no longer operational. Scientific advisor Tim Morris from the greyhound authority described the environment at the kennels as one where doping was not just occasional but routine, highlighting a systemic abuse of substances.

Whelan, who is 38 years old, later claimed that the test results were “very strange” but denied any knowledge of the dogs being doped. He accused jealous rivals of orchestrating the scandal and stated that the kennels at Hall Green racetrack had their doors unlocked between races, implying a lack of oversight. Whelan also expressed his frustration, describing the ban as “a disgusting decision” and stating that he walked out of the hearing, considering the penalties excessive.

Animal welfare campaigners, including Rita James from the group CAGED, have long criticized the sport for its doping practices. James emphasized that efforts to clean up greyhound racing are failing, with doping and race-fixing allegedly being widespread and putting dogs at significant risk for financial gain.

All five men involved in the doping scheme were sentenced to pay a fine of £5,000 each and received an indefinite disqualification from working with racing greyhounds. The case underscores ongoing concerns about integrity and animal welfare within the industry, with calls for stricter regulation and enforcement to prevent such abuses in the future.