Allegations agains Paul Peter 'unfounded and baseless' - NHA

The NHA is aware of the “unsubstantiated serious allegations” after the announcement on 8 September 2022 of Trainer Mr Paul Peter’s decision to relinquish his Trainer’s Licence. The discussions pertaining to his decision was recorded by the NHA in the presence of witnesses. This relinquishment was accepted by the Licensing Committee of NHA to cease, after the race meeting of 10 September 2022 at Turffontein Racecourse (Inside track), with effect from 11 September 2022.

Immediately after the dissemination of the NHA’s press release on 8 September, Executive Management were inundated with telephone calls and there was an absurd number of rumours doing the rounds on multiple platforms. Amongst those was that Mr Peter has had numerous positive specimens from his winners to date and that he was advised by the NHA to hand in his Trainer’s License to make the matter “go away”, despite the absence of any evidence to support or substantiate that rumour. The leadership of the NHA do NOT take lightly to these wild and loose assertions. To set the record straight, Mr Peter requested to see the Chief Executive and NOT the other way around. Due to Mr Peter having wins/places during the month of August 2022 and up until 10 September 2022, the NHA was NOT able to respond to these allegations until ALL the specimens for that period were analysed.

The analysing of all specimens until the above date has now been completed by the NHA Laboratory, which is the only authority permitted to perform such tests in South Africa currently. Please see the prior press releases attached that confirms the accreditation and capabilities of the NHA Laboratory. All outstanding tests and related comprehensive analyses have provided a negative result for any prohibited substances under the Rules of the NHA. The NHA categorically denies all allegations of Mr Peter’s horses competing with prohibited substances and since July 2018 to 10 September 2022 he has had no positive cases of prohibited substances. The allegations are therefore unfounded and entirely baseless.

It is extremely disappointing that malicious rumours of this nature, especially in the current climate that the Horseracing Industry finds itself in, further erodes the credibility and the image of the Sport. The NHA prides itself in ensuring that all governance protocols are adhered to, and the motto of “no fear, favour or prejudice” is strictly applied. The integrity and the legitimacy of the product, that has both local and international customers wagering billions of rands, is paramount in the execution of our duties.

The NHA grants all stakeholders the necessary assurance that the rumours, must be treated as a rumour and no more. - NHA