Trainer Philip Fenton will spend the coming days considering his options after being handed a three-year ban by the Turf Club at a special hearing on Saturday morning.
Fenton was last month found guilty of possession of anabolic steroids and other banned substances following a Department Of Agriculture inspection almost three-years ago for which the court fined him €6,000 and ordered him to play costs of €4,200.
At the Turf Club hearing, Fenton's legal team pushed for a financial penalty but the hearing committee handed down a three-year disqualification which will begin at midnight on Friday.
Fenton is a multiple Grade One winning trainer and previously was a leading amateur rider but pending an appeal he will not be permitted to enter or train horses from midnight on Friday and as of March 1 he is banned from any racing environment as a result of Saturday's hearing.
Owners Gigginstown House Stud and Barry Connell had already withdrawn their horses from his yard following last months court outcome.