Trainer Paul Jones Banned for Eight Months

Trainer Paul Jones became the first Australian trainer to be banned for using and possessing a synthetic peptide according to Racing.com. Originally facing a two-year ban, Jones was banned for eight months by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board after twice injecting injured racehorse General Sateen (Aus) (Superior Sateen {Aus}) with TB-1000. Jones gained concessions from the board that reduced his disqualification to six months for the first charge and four months for the second, with two of those months being served concurrently. TB-1000 is a derivative of the protein Thymosin Beta-4. RAD Board chairman Judge John Bowman stated Jones should have realized his actions were not proper in that he possessed and administered an unregistered product from an uncertified supplier.