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John Walton/EMPICS Sport
Ban

BHA ban trainer Howard Johnson for four years

Trainer of legendary stayer Inglis Drever found to have breached animal welfare rules.

HOWARD JOHNSON, TRAINER of three-time Ladbrokes World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever, has had his racing licence revoked for four years by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

This morning’s announcement follows the conclusion of a disciplinary hearing last week at which Johnson was found to have breached the sport’s animal welfare rules.

The disciplinary panel heard that Striking Article, one of Johnson’s horses, had raced eight times following a palmar neurectomy operation in April 2008.

The Rules of Racing state that it is illegal for horses to compete if they have undergone the procedure, which severs the nervous connection to the lower leg.

In response to the charges, Johnson told the hearing that he was unaware of the rule.

The 58-year-old trainer, who has held his licence since 1984, was also charged under a separate investigation in relation to the administration of anabolic steroids to three other horses.

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