Australian trainer Joe Janiak hits back in row

Joe Janiak, the Australian trainer, recently responded to claims that Takeover Target should not have been invited to run at Royal Ascot.

Takeover Target, the nine-year old, could have an unfair advantage after testing positive for a banned steroid in 2006 as per British trainer Mark Johnston.

From News.bbc.co.uk:

Janiak said the criticism is unfair: "There's no justification for it, we were innocent at the time."
"At no stage did steroids give my horse an advantage."
He added: "It's done and we've paid the penalty."
Takeover Target was found to have the anabolic steroid 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone hexanoate, known as HPC, in his system on arrival in Hong Kong in October 2006.
The drug, which has the potential to build muscle, was not on the banned list of substances in Australia at the time but was outlawed in February 2008.
Janiak says HPC was recommended by vets as an aid for horses who travel abroad.

Johnston told the Racing Post that it seems like the rules for British trainers are different from those for Australian trainers with runners in Britain.