VETERAN Colac trainer Bill Cerchi is facing three charges laid by Racing Victoria stewards.
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The charges come after stewards investigated the circumstances that led to Cerchi's galloper Backstreet Alley returning a pre-race blood sample late last year.
The presence of frusemide, a diuretic, was detected in the blood sample by Racing Analytical Services Limited and by the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory after Backstreet Alley ran in a benchmark 64 handicap at Warrnambool on December 31.
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Stewards issued charges against Cerchi alleging he either gave the diuretic or caused it to be administered to Backstreet Alley on raceday before the start of the race.
Stewards issued two further alternative charges under different racing rules.
The charges will be heard by the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.
Cerchi has trained countless winners across the western district during his long career, including many country cups.
Earlier this week, in an unrelated interview, he told The Standard his career was at the crossroads.
"It is getting too tough for the smaller trainers, the bigger trainers are getting bigger and the smaller ones smaller," Cerchi said.
"The racing game is all about training winners and if you don't get winners, owners forget you.
"I'm not the only trainer who is struggling."
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