Qld racing's integrity officer stood down

Wade Birch, who oversees the integrity of all racing in Queensland, has been stood down pending a review of the greyhound live-baiting scandal.

Greyhounds during a race

Greyhounds during a race (AAP)

Queensland racing's chief integrity officer has been stood down while an internal review is conducted in the wake of investigations into live greyhound baiting.

Wade Birch is the steward managing integrity in all three racing codes - thoroughbreds, harness racing and greyhounds.

The Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board released a statement on Sunday afternoon advising that he had been stood down pending an internal review of the integrity department and its inspection procedures.

It stressed there was no suggestion of any wrongdoing on Mr Birch's part but the entire integrity process was under review.

QACRIB chairman Kevin Dixon said in the wake of evidence of live baiting within the greyhound industry, the procedures of the integrity department needed to be addressed.

"Information that has to come to light in the past week suggests there are procedural issues within the integrity area of the business," Dixon said.

"As Mr Birch is the officer responsible for that department, the board has taken the decision that it is appropriate to stand Mr Birch down while those shortcomings are further understood.

"There is no allegation of improper conduct on Mr Birch's part, however in the board's view, it was appropriate he be stood down until the review is completed.

"Racing Queensland will be making appropriate arrangements in the next day to cover the position, with the view to implementing the recommendations of that internal review."

Greyhound racing was rocked last week by television footage showing small animals being used as live baits in training.

Several prominent trainers in NSW, Victoria and Queensland have been suspended.

Of the 13 Queensland trainers stood down, some were issued show cause notices last week to give reasons why they should not be warned off all racecourses.

Mr Birch is also in the middle of an investigation into higher than allowed cobalt levels returned in samples from six harness racing horses and two thoroughbreds.


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Source: AAP


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