NSW: Steward at centre of greyhound corruption scandal

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2000
NSW: Steward at centre of greyhound corruption scandal

An inquiry's heard Greyhound racing's chief steward in New South Wales is at the centre
of a dog switching racket.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption has heard the scandal compares to horse
racing's infamous Fine Cotton Affair.

Chief Steward RODNEY WAYNE POTTER'S interference with the drug testing of greyhounds
also showed how open the system was to corruption.

The ICAC inquiry opened today accusing Mr POTTER of a corrupt relationship with certain
trainers and owners.

Counsel assisting ICAC STEPHEN RUSHTON alleged Mr POTTER had tampered with the urine
samples of certain greyhounds and had intervened in the ballot which determined which
races would be swabbed.

Mr RUSHTON said Mr POTTER was involved in the canine equivalent of the 1984 affair
in which the horse Bold Personality was substituted for Fine Cotton.

He said despite the Greyhound Racing Authority's mandate to maintain a clean and drug
free industry, it had failed dismally.

AAP RTV alt/sb/sp/smf/jn

KEYWORD: ICAC DOGS (SYDNEY)

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