Selwyn Times: March 11, 2020

SELWYN TIMES Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Wednesday March 11 2020 11
News
Court battle to keep name
secret over drugs charges
A HIGH-PROFILE Canterbury
harness racing person who has
admitted to drugs charges is now
fighting to have their name kept
secret.
The person, who cannot yet
be identified for legal reasons,
has pleaded guilty in the district
court to possession and supply
of the illegal party drug MDMA
(ecstasy).
It comes as several other
Canterbury-based harness racing
people continue to face district
court proceedings over possessing
and supplying ecstasy, a
Class B drug.
They were
caught up
in the ongoing
police
undercover
Matt
Anderson
and electronic
surveillance
operation Inca
into drug use
and alleged race fixing in the
harness racing industry.
One, trainer/driver Matt
Anderson, pleaded guilty to
possession and supply. He was
discharged without conviction
SECRECY: A high profile figure within the harness racing
community is fighting for name suppression after admitting drugs
charges.
and was refused final name
suppression.
Anderson now will face a hearing
over the drug matter from
racing industry statutory body
the Judicial Control Authority.
He could lose his training and
driving licence and face a substantial
fine.
The latest individual to plead
guilty to the drugs has a district
court hearing in early April
where their lawyer will argue for a
discharge without conviction and
permanent name suppression.
Harness Racing New Zealand
chief executive Peter Jensen said
recreational drug use was an issue
which it took seriously.
“Our sport is not immune to
what is a societal issue present
in all professions and trades.
As a condition of their licence,
licensed participants such as
trainers, drivers and stable hands
can be, and are, tested at race
or trials meeting by the Racing
Integrity Unit,” he said.
“A number of drivers were tested
at a race meeting
[recently] and all
tests were clear.”
New Zealand
Harness Racing
Trainers and
Drivers Association
secretary
Peter Cook did
not think recreational
drug use
was widespread.
Colin
De Filippi
“The fact that one or two individuals
have been doing it does
not mean to say that recreational
drugs are rife in the industry,”
he said.
Senior harness racing driver
and trainer Colin De Filippi also
believed it wasn’t a problem.
“I’m not saying it is not there
I just don’t think it is a big problem,”
he said.
“I know some of the drivers
that do long hours, they tend
to do eight hours a day at the
stable and then drive to Dunedin
‘I know some of the drivers
that do long hours, they tend
to do eight hours a day at the
stable and then drive to Dunedin
and then home again,
some pretty long days and
some say they need some
stuff to keep them going.’
- Colin De Filippi
and then home again, some
pretty long days and some say
they need some stuff to keep
them going.”
Health agencies and the police
are concerned about the use of
ecstasy in society, particularly in
the party scene.
Ecstasy gives a person an
enhanced sense of well-being,
increased extroversion, and they
become highly affectionate. But
use of even moderate doses can
dramatically increase body temperature,
with potentially deadly
consequences.
Meanwhile, a Canterbury
harness trainer/driver has been
arrested on strangulation and assault
charges. He will appear in the
district court later this month.
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