Two NSW greyhound trainer brothers have been fined more than $3000 each for offences including possessing a drug used to euthanise animals and steroids that stop bitches coming into heat.
Wayne Vanderburg, 45, of Seaham and John Vanderburg, 43, of Yarramundi pleaded guilty to multiple drug and firearm offences in September after detectives seized syringes, vials, tablets, guns and ammunition when they raided the brothers' homes in April.
Strike Force Inbob was set up to investigate race fixing and irregular betting within the greyhound industry.
According to court documents, police seized up to 20 syringes from the Vanderburg properties containing either green Pentobarbital solution - also known as Pentobarbitone, which police have previously said is used by vets to euthanise animals - or testosterone-based, veterinary prescription-only steroidal agents.
Their solicitor Hamish Cockburn confirmed one of the steroid substances is "administered to female greyhounds before season" to prevent their heat cycle and is now prohibited under greyhound racing rules.
He said while euthanasia was a "regrettable practice within the industry", the drug was "there for the sake of emergencies" such as a rural trainer dealing with a dog suffering catastrophic injuries when a vet is not nearby.
In sentencing them in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday, magistrate Megan Greenwood fined Wayne Vanderburg $3810 and his younger brother $3300.
The magistrate said her "real concern" was the number of syringes containing steroids and convictions must be recorded due to the "amount of offending" by the two men.
She noted that greyhound trainer legislation "doesn't preclude someone with a conviction being registered" but "the general requirement" is for licence holders to have a good reputation and to be of good character.
"A conviction doesn't seem to me ... to prohibit a person from ... withholding a licence," Ms Greenwood said.
"While I expect you have learnt from this experience, there is a very important need of general deterrence."
Both men received a 25 per cent discount for making an early guilty plea.
Wayne Vanderburg was also convicted for possessing a firearm magazine and knuckle dusters - the latter Mr Cockburn said his client "made as a teenager and foolishly didn't throw away" - while the younger Vanderburg was convicted for holding a gun licence without having approved safe storage of ammunition.
His firearms licence was suspended as a result.
In his submissions, Mr Cockburn said the brothers will "endeavour never to repeat" the offending which has had an "extremely disruptive effect" on their lives, family and reputation.
He said they have been licensed as professional greyhound trainers for years but this has been put in jeopardy.
