AGCO – Goderich Free Press

TORONTO, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued a 10-year suspension and $40,000 penalty to Standardbred trainer Jeffrey Gillis following an investigation by its Equine Drug Unit.

The AGCO has been actively investigating potential violations of Ontario’s horseracing anti-doping rules stemming from an international criminal investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI investigation resulted in 27 horseracing trainers, veterinarians, and others being charged in the United States with offenses relating to the systematic shipment and administration of illegal performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) to racehorses competing across multiple jurisdictions.

Records recently obtained by the AGCO include evidence that Gillis purchased illegal PEDs – including a substance held out to be an illegal, blood-boosting synthetic erythropoietin (EPO) – from Seth Fishman. Fishman was a U.S.-based veterinarian who was among the 27 individuals charged by U.S. federal prosecutors for his role in the manufacture and distribution of PEDs designed specifically to evade equine anti-doping controls.

The AGCO’s Rules of Racing explicitly state that no individual will possess or attempt to possess banned, non-therapeutic substances or medications. The AGCO has quickly moved to issue this ruling in order to protect the integrity of the sport and to safeguard horse welfare.

The AGCO’s Equine Drug Unit is staffed through a partnership between the AGCO and the Ontario Provincial Police Investigations and Enforcement Bureau. The unit routinely collaborates with local, national and international authorities to detect the use of illegal, and performance-enhancing drugs in Ontario.

A licensed horse racing participant issued a Ruling under the Rules of Racing has the right to appeal the AGCO’s action to the Horse Racing Appeal Panel (HRAP), an independent adjudicative body mandated to hear appeals of the Registrar’s decisions made under the Rules of Racing.

TORONTO, Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued a Notice of Proposal (NOP) for a 60-day liquor sales licence suspension of Mister Wolf at 567 Queen Street West in Toronto, Ontario. Following a review, the AGCO has reason to believe the licence holder contravened the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA) and its Regulations after a 19-year-old patron was discovered dead inside the establishment.

The AGCO’s review established that on Saturday, May 25, 2024, a patron was seated with a group at a VIP area inside the premises, where they were served three large bottles of liquor. After consuming numerous drinks throughout the night, the patron began repeatedly stumbling, staggering, losing his balance, engaging in physical altercations with other patrons, and exhibiting visible signs of intoxication. At no point did security or staff at the establishment intervene in any way. Shortly after 1:00 AM, the patron proceeded up a stairwell that was supposed to be cordoned off. He was found deceased inside the stairwell the following afternoon. A toxicology analysis confirmed a blood alcohol content of more than twice the legal driving limit under the Criminal Code of Canada. Based on the information available, the AGCO has concluded that, contrary to the LLCA, Regulation 746/21, subsection 43(1), the licensee permitted intoxication to occur on the licensed premises. Staff at the licensed establishment knew or ought to have known that the deceased was exhibiting clear signs of intoxication and failed to intervene as required.

In reviewing the circumstances and evaluating similar precedent, the AGCO is proposing a 60-day suspension of Mister Wolf’s liquor sales licence. The AGCO will be closely monitoring the licence holder’s plans for corrective actions and their implementation following the suspension.

Throughout this process, the AGCO has worked closely with the Toronto Police Service, who have separately laid charges under the LLCA. That matter is proceeding in the Ontario Court of Justice.

The AGCO holds liquor licensees to high standards for the safe and responsible sale of alcohol. Liquor licence holders must ensure their customers are not served to intoxication or permit intoxication on their premises. It is the responsibility of all licensees to ensure their staff are properly trained to recognize the signs of intoxication.

An establishment served with a Notice of Proposal has the right to appeal the Registrar’s action to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal independent of the AGCO and part of Tribunals Ontario.

The AGCO is committed to ensuring that the alcohol sector operates with honesty, integrity and in the public interest.