How Payne landed in trouble with stewards

Ongoing problems stemming from a life-threatening fall led Michelle Payne to a failed drug test at Swan Hill last month.

Michelle Payne addressed the media after receiving her suspension for a positive test for a prohibited substance.

Payne suffered severe injuries, including a split pancreas, in the fall at Mildura in May last year, requiring a pancreatic bypass, which was the source of her trouble.

The 31-year-old's barrister Michael Rivett told stewards the major surgery Payne underwent has caused "poor satiation after eating and a feeling of hunger because her receptors aren't firing in the normal way."

Payne's doctor prescribed Phentermine, an appetite suppressant, as the latest attempt to help Payne with her "gastro-intestinal symptoms".

Payne had been taking the substance for "one or two months" but not usually when riding in races, admitting in an interview with stewards she knew it was a banned substance.

The jockey and stewards agreed Payne's major mistake was failing to use the provision in the Australian Rules of Racing to apply for an exemption, which could allow stewards to give her permission to ride while using the drug.

Payne was tested at Swan Hill on June 11 but did not advise stewards via a form that she had taken Phentermine on the Thursday before her rides.

"I gave the (urine) sample straight away, filled out the form and didn't give it another thought," Payne said of the events at Swan Hill that led to her positive test.

The failure to cover all bases led to Payne making worldwide headlines when Racing Victoria publicised the fact she had been stood down from riding since June 23.

Why it took RV to five days to make that fact public is another matter but Payne admitted her negligence in failing to ask the enough questions to ensure she was doing everything right.

"It's something I regret, being here today," Payne told stewards. "I should have sought the information.

"I could have handed it better.

"I'm embarrassed and apologise for that. It was my responsibility."

Rivett suggested stewards restricted Payne's period out of the saddle to the time she had already served but the panel, led by deputy chief steward Robert Cram, was never going to let her serve a week's penalty.

Cram and fellow stewards Dion Villella and Brett Wright stayed within the accepted norms for similar cases, giving Payne a four-week ban after taking into account her guilty plea, remorse and her medical circumstances.

"You didn't comply with a fundamental obligation to seek advice before taking the substance," Cram told Payne in summing up.

"Just following RV Integrity's example which had far greater repercussions sir. I note that no RV officials have been stood down for their giant cockup. Sorry to bring racing into disrepute sir but you blokes lead that race by the length of the straight." (3BM]

"You knew it was a banned substance and you failed to apply for an exemption."

Payne's suspension only applies to riding horses, meaning she can continue to keep training her team.

Payne said she would consult with her doctors before determining her treatment regime, which could include a switch to another medicine.

Payne accepted the penalty.

https://www.racenet.com.au/news/135373/How-Payne-landed-in-trouble-with-stewards