Singapore championship leader Jason Lim handed 18-month ban
The training career of Jason Lim in Singapore looks to be over after he was yesterday handed an 18-month ban following a positive test for a banned substance on one of his horses after it won at Kranji in January.
Lim, who has been training since April 2019 and leads the trainers’ standings in Singapore, was hit with the penalty after a post-race urine sample taken from Takhi (Bahamian Squall) following the six-year-old’s win in a Class 5 contest over 1100 metres on January 28 revealed the presence of Boldenone Sulphate, a drug which can be used to increase muscle mass.
Singapore Turf Club stewards opened an inquiry into the positive test in mid-March and, after reconvening yesterday, they handed out their punishment to the trainer, who has enjoyed notable success recently with Super Salute (I Am Invincible), winner of the EW Barker Trophy (Listed, 1400m) and Singapore Silver Bowl (Listed, 1400m).
At the conclusion of the inquiry, Lim was found guilty of a charge that he was, at all times, the trainer and person responsible for presenting Takhi to race on January 28, following which a post-race urine sample collected was reported and confirmed to contain Boldenone Sulphate.
In assessing the penalty, the stewards considered Lim’s disciplinary record, personal circumstances, the serious nature of the substance as well as the negative impact such breaches have on the image of the industry, and the need for any penalty to act as a general deterrent.
Lim was disqualified with immediate effect and advised that he has 14 days to attend to his stable affairs and was further advised that he would not be permitted to race or trial any horse during this period. He was also advised of his right of appeal. Takhi was disqualified from the race and the second past the post, Ben Wade (Ferlax), promoted to first and the placings adjusted accordingly.
Lim, who has around 30 horses in his care, was first advised of the positive result on February 9 and told that Takhi would not be able to race again until cleared by the stewards. The horse was subsequently tested again later that same month, and after returning a sample clear of any non-permitted substance, cleared to race. He has raced six times since, failing to win any of the races.
With racing in Singapore set to end in October next year, the local training career of Lim, who spent time as a workrider in NSW before holding various assistant trainer positions on his return to his homeland, looks like being over, subject to any successful appeal.