Caribbean Sports Network

TRAINER Shaffique Khan is threatening “legal redress” over the decision by the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority to refuse his charge Kickupastorm to race in the Midsummer Classic on Monday. Khan’s charges Finch and Kickupastorm tested positive for prohibited substances.

The trainer sent off a letter to TTRA chairman Joe Hadeed yesterday, asking him to explain the criteria used in debarring Kickupastorm from contesting the Midsummer Classic.

He pointed out that Finch which was also trained by him at the time and tested positive was allowed to race on Saturday last.

Khan said the Rules of Racing was quoted after the findings, but questioned “How did the Rules of Racing not apply (in the case of Kickupastorm)?”

He also pointed out that Go For The Gold which tested positive was allowed to race “in a matter of days” after an application was made to allow him to race in the Carib Guineas.

Khan had applied for permission for Kickupastorm to race in the Midsummer Classic by letter dated July 23, but said he did not receive a reply until July 26 denying his charge from racing.

He said he found the debarring of Kickupastorm from racing until a hearing “harsh and oppressive” and said it appears to be a case of different strokes for different folks.

Khan said: “I look forward to your (TTRA) response in the next 24 hours, failing which I will have to seek the necessary legal redress to deal with this very oppressive decision, since it clearly points in the direction of victimisation while just cause has not been given a chance.”