Murray Fish Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 Top Waikato jockey Matthew Cameron suspended for cocaine Jo Lines-MacKenzie August 20, 2024 • 01:01pm Share Matthew Cameron has been suspended from riding for nine months (file photo) TRISH DUNELL / The Press Waikato jockey Matthew Cameron has been forced to hang up the saddle for nine months after testing positive for cocaine. The 37-year-old claims he didn’t realise his non-alcoholic drink at a Cambridge gathering had the Class A drug in it - though he was aware some people were putting“caps” into their drinks. In a decision released by the Racing Integrity Board, it’s stated Cameron had ridden in several races at Racing Rotorua club meeting at Arawa Park on July 3, 2024. He was one of 20 jockeys selected for drug screening that day. Cameron supplied a urine sample which upon analysis was positive to benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. On July 11, a Racing Integrity Board investigator advised Cameron of the result. Cameron “adamantly denied snorting cocaine”, but he admitted to having been at a friend’s address in Cambridge on the evening of June 29, where he was aware of drug use. Matthew Cameron was convicted of indecent assault on a man in 2021. Mark Taylor / Waikato Times Cameron has no previous judicial history involving controlled drugs. He has two other historic offences, one making a false statement and falsifying documentation in 2007, resulting in a 6-month disqualification. And he had his riding licence revoked after being convicted of an indecent assault in 2021. On the cocaine allegation, Cameron told the investigator the female host told the drink that might have cocaine in it - after he’d finished drinking it. “I’m pretty sure one of the boys put something in the drink.” Cameon alleges he didn’t think a lot about it at the time and didn’t feel any different. He estimates that he had four to five non-alcoholic beverages before driving home. Cameron said in an email response to the RIB that he was aware that there were drugs at the property but had no intention of consuming any. “I would like to clear up that my drink wasn’t spiked as I see drink spiking a little different to what I have said. “I was aware that people were putting caps of cocaine into there [sic] drinks, and I was unlucky that someone had put one of them into the drink I was drinking not knowing it was mine or intentionally doing it to me.” Cameron was told after he had consumed the drink cocaine had been put in it. “I’m not denying that cocaine was in my system. All I can say is there was no intention to go to this gathering and consume the drug.” Matthew Cameron says he didn’t know cocaine was in a drink he consumed (file photo) Glenn Jeffrey/Fairfax NZ / Glenn Jeffrey The RIB took Cameron’s suggestion of cocaine in his drink to the Institute of Environmental Science and Research scientist in the toxicology team. An unnamed member who has 31 years experience stated she’s never had a case where a person has used cocaine by way of ingestion through drinking. She said cocaine users predominantly snort or inject the substance. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing began drug testing industry participants in 1995. All riders are aware of the policy and the consequences should they not comply, the organisation said. The testing is conducted to maintain a safe and healthy workplace and to maintain the integrity of the industry. Cameron has been disqualified for nine months and ordered to pay the analysis costs of $187.50 to the RIB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 The tragedy for me here is that even though he knew he had consumed the cocaine, he rocked up to race ride anyway without at least getting tested to make sure he was clear first. Also odd is that there is evidence from an "un-named" expert saying that she’s never had a case where a person has used cocaine by way of ingestion through drinking. Coca tea is widely used and legal in Argentina and some other South American countries at least. Even the pope was reported as drinking it at some stage. It is a part of traditional indigenous medical practice there. I'm not for a minute suggesting its presence in a jockey's system on race day should be condoned but there do seem to be some odd things about this case, including that only 20 riders were tested. There's no indication in the report about how they were selected. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 Give the kid 6 months with a month off for good behaviour at "CS Ruakaka Satellite racing venue!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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