澳大利亚赛马训练师格雷格·麦克法兰因其参赛马匹布雷梅尔检出促红细胞生成素（EPO）呈阳性而被禁赛两年半，禁令于2025年8月7日宣布[1]。麦克法兰对该处罚提出上诉，其核心论点聚焦于反兴奋剂检测中使用的采血管已经过期[1]。
该马匹的赛外检测在2025年2月进行，检出特征肽段为VYSNFLR和SLTTLLR的EPO[1]。麦克法兰否认EPO指控，辩称使用过期采血管违反全球反兴奋剂检测标准，"过期采血管在反兴奋剂检测中不应使用，这有多项全球标准和规定"[1]。赛马委员会承认所涉采血管确已过期，但其专家证据表明检测结果不会因此受到影响[1]。
除禁赛处罚外，麦克法兰还因标签错误被罚款300美元，因治疗记录不准确被罚款600美元[1]。这并非麦克法兰首次因涉及不当训练方法遭罚，他曾在2013至2015年间因胃管喂食马匹被禁赛两年[1]。
Australian racehorse trainer Greg McFarland is challenging a two-and-a-half-year racing ban imposed in August 2025 over his horse Bremel's positive test for erythropoietin (EPO), citing the use of expired blood collection tubes as grounds for overturning the penalty.[1]
The out-of-competition test conducted in February 2025 detected EPO in Bremel's system, specifically the peptide markers VYSNFLR and SLTTLLR.[1] McFarland has denied the doping allegation, arguing that the Racing Commission's use of expired sample tubes violated global anti-doping testing standards. While McFarland contends "the use of expired blood collection tubes is a critical issue, and we therefore maintain there is insufficient evidence to support this charge," the Racing Commission has acknowledged the tubes were expired but asserts that expert evidence demonstrates this would not have affected the test results.[1]
In addition to the racing suspension, McFarland was fined AU$300 for labelling errors and AU$600 for inaccurate treatment records.[1] He was previously banned for two years between 2013 and 2015 following a violation involving stomach tubing of horses.[1]