TRAINER Philip Fenton’s licence was revoked this week after he withdrew his appeal - due to be heard next Tuesday - against the alleged severity of his three-year ban from training imposed by the Turf Club.

Fenton was found guilty of eight charges of possessing anabolic steroids and other banned substances at a Carrick-on-Suir district court hearing in October. The conviction came on foot of an inspection of Fenton’s Garryduff yard by a team of inspectors from the Department of Agriculture in January 2012.

Following the court case, Fenton was banned for three-years at a Turf Club hearing on November 22nd last. Fenton and his legal team subsequently lodged an appeal.

However on Thursday, the Turf Club announced: “The Turf Club has received notification that Philip Fenton has withdrawn his appeal with regard to the “severity’’ of the ban imposed on him by the referrals committee at a hearing on Saturday, November 22nd.”

A Turf Club spokesperson told The Irish Field: “We don’t know why the appeal was withdrawn, we don’t ask that question. His licence is now revoked.” Fenton, who has been granted time to wind down his training operation, will become a disqualified person on March 1st.

The Turf Club spokesperson added that Fenton can apply again for a licence once his period of suspension is up. “He has a right to apply again once he has served his period of suspension. That does not mean he would get it but he’s free to reapply.”

Meanwhile Horse Racing Ireland will be finalising its new drugs taskforce at its board meeting next Thursday.

The new taskforce, which should be up and running in January, will include representatives of the Turf Club, the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association and sales companies.

Also in January, the Turf Club is starting an out-of-competition testing regime applicable to any horse ever returned in training, whether currently in training or not.