Tullymurry Act tests positive for Cyclizine in 120,000 Euro Irish Greyhound Derby final
Tullymurry Act battled through four rounds of the Irish Greyhound Derby in September, but couldn’t do better than last place in the final race. Now things are even worse for the hound, and his owner and trainer. All the finalists were tested for drugs, and
Act tested positive for Cyclizine.
Act’s owner, Keith Allsop, and his trainer, Pat Buckley, have vowed to discover what may have caused the positive test result.
The Irish Greyhound Board has refused to comment, since their policy under the new Control Committee guidelines prevents them from commenting at this time.
Cyclizine is a drug used by humans to treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness usually associated with motion sickness. It is also used recreationally as an opiate. It is not a performance-enhancing drug, but has rather has the opposite effect.
In the Irish Greyhound Derby final, Act not only finished in last place he finished 12 lengths behind the fifth place finisher, and 19 lengths behind the winner, Tyrur McGuigan.
Tyrur Big Mike was the heavy favourite in the race, he ended up in second, and Act was expected to be his main competition. It is possible that someone purposefully drugged Act in order to ensure a victory for Big Mike, considering the prize money for winning
the Derby was 120,000 Euros.
Leading up to the final race Act had two wins, and two second place finishes. In the semi-final Act lost to Big Mike by 5½ lengths. Big Mike finished first in the four rounds leading up to the final, but lost to his brother and kennelmate, McGuigan in the
final itself.
It’s uncommon for greyhounds test positive for drugs in the world of greyhound racing. If indeed Act was drugged in an attempt to prevent him from winning the Irish Derby, it will be one of the most infamous events in recent greyhound racing history.
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