VICTORIAN trainer Leon Corstens has been suspended for six months over a positive swab returned by Starspangledbanner before it won at Caulfield in August.

The RAD Board handed down its decision today after hearing a charge laid by RVL stewards against Corstens under AR 178, to which he had pleaded not guilty.

The charge related to a prohibited substance, being Altrenogest, detected in the horse Starspangledbanner prior to it winning the Victorian Owners and Breeders’ Awards Handicap at Caulfield on 1 August, 2009.

Corstens pleaded not guilty but the RAD Board ruled that the charged had been proven. His licence to train was suspended for a period of six months commencing at midnight on 28 February, 2010 and expiring at midnight on 31 August, 2010.

Starspangledbanner was disqualified from the race in question with Tariks promoted to first place. Corstens, who has an ordinary track record for previous positive swab offences,  plans to appeal the decision.