Sample manipulation – Gqeberha jockey suspended

Gqeberha-based jockey Sandile Khathi was banned for 365 days after he was found to have tampered with a urine sample. The ban was suspended after he was found to have tampered with a urine sample.

Khathi was charged with a breach of Rules 77.1.1 and 77.2.2 by being at a racecourse to participate in racing on 23 February 2024, 1 March 2024, 8 March 2024 and 15 March 2024 when a urine sample contained a prohibited substance, namely carboxy-THC (cannabis).

He signed a guilty plea and was banned from racing for a period of 14 days (from May 25, 2024 to June 7, 2024, both dates inclusive).

Kathi was also charged with a breach of Rules 72.1.17 and 72.1.37 by adding water to a urine sample taken from him on March 1, 2024 at Fairview Racecourse, thereby misleading and tampering with the race directors.

He signed a guilty plea and was banned from racing for 365 days, including 300 days over a period of five years, on the condition that he not be guilty of any rule violations related to sample tampering or misleading officials.

The applicable dates are 21 March 2024 to 24 May 2024 inclusive, with the start of these dates being dated retroactively to the date of entry into force of the provisional suspension imposed.