Doping suspect Bo Westergaard starts eleven horses at Axevalla • Home trainer’s anger: “Feels hopeless”
Updated 14:44 | Published at 2:35 p.m
full screenDavid Persson rages against Bo Westergaard starting his horses at Axevalla. Photo: LARS JAKOBSSON/TR MEDIA
Head coach Bo Westergaard is suspected of doping.
This weekend he comes to Sweden and competes with eleven horses.
That makes home coach David Persson see red.
– It feels hopeless that we should stand and applaud him at V75, he says to Trav365.
Seven years ago (2016), the Danish trotting trainer Bo Westergaard was suspended for two years for several cases of doping.
He was welcomed back and is now one of the biggest Danish trotting trainers.
But now he is in new bad weather.
Last Friday, DH Sport announced that Bo Westergaard’s horse, the Norwegian Criterion winner ID Exceptional, tested positive in an A test after a race at Skive on April 30 this year.
The A sample showed traces of the sedative butorphanol, which also acts as a pain reliever.
“Must be shut down with immediate effect”
The test was taken after a start at the Skive racetrack on April 30 this year.
But despite the discovery and the prevailing suspicions, Westergaard intends to start eleven horses during Axevalla’s big weekend with V75 over the weekend.
This has angered trotting Sweden, including several Swedish trotting trainers.
One of them, home cooking coach David Persson, wrote a post on Twitter where he vented his displeasure.
”Repeat offenders must be suspended with immediate effect pending investigation. Should it have to go so far that we have to iron our horses for the weekend to show that we stand up? Does it only affect ourselves if we do it? How do we do?he writes.
“Talking about a repeat offender”
For Trav365, David Persson, who himself has three horses to start at V75 on Saturday, develops his reasoning.
– It’s clear that you get frustrated, especially with how the system works. In humanities, if you are caught with a positive doping test, then you are suspended until the investigation is complete. Can kind of understand why it’s not like that in the trotting sport considering horse owners who are affected and so on, he says and continues:
– But here we are talking about a repeat offender who previously went there for deliberate systematic doping. It then feels so resigned that we have to stand and watch around the tracks as he continues to compete. I think it’s wrong, have no problem standing up for it and I hope many people think like me.
But has not been convicted this time – yet. How do you see it?
– In this case, it will be a little special. He has already shown what he is capable of. Then it becomes a mockery of the rest of us. I also understand that he is not convicted and what the regulations look like, but it feels at the same time that our association just stands by and just watches, lets it happen.
Bo Westergaard Photo: Malin Albinsson / TR BILD
“Triggered me”
Could it be a boycott from your side?
– It is difficult for us active people to do something ourselves. Maybe if some great coach would go first and show the way. But I really think that it has to come from above, from ST, where you clearly show which side you stand on.
V75 at home. How does it feel?
– For me, it feels hopeless. His coming here puts a damper on everything. I’ve been super pumped for this weekend but this is dragging me down. Deep down I didn’t think he would show up. That’s mainly what got me started. That we should now stand and applaud him on V75.
“Understand that many people don’t like me”
Danish top coach Bo Westergaard realizes that it will be tough for him to visit Axevalla during the weekend, but will still be there.
– I will go to Axevalla and I understand that many people do not like me. But I will take the consequences, but it will be difficult. I have nothing to hide and therefore I go to Sweden and V75 and start as before. I am innocent, he says in a longer interview with Trav365.
check Trav365 has been in contact with Swedish Travsport, which intends to return with information.
2023-07-17 12:38:12
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