One of the leading figures influential in the introduction of drug testing in harness racing is among those serving a one-year ban for failing a random drugs test, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Colin Mello, who sits on the Driving Horse and Pony Club Executive Committee, was considered to be a top title contender with the potential to shatter records in his pony's time bar when he was suspended along with two others after his pony failed a drug test.

Contacted by The Gazette, Mello refused to comment.

And DHPC president Nick DeCosta would neither confirm nor deny that one of his fellow committee members had been banned.

But several reliable harness racing sources said Mello was the last of three drivers whose pony failed a random test earlier this month and as such had been banned from competing for the next 12 months.

Earlier this week this newspaper revealed that three drivers had fallen foul of drug scans which DHPC members are subjected to on a random basis.

Two ponies tested positive for caffeine while a third was found to have phenylbutazone or Bute in its system.

All drivers are subjected to drug testing by the Bermuda Equestrian Federation while the ponies themselves are tested at the behest of the DHPC.

Meanwhile, the doping scandal took another twist yesterday when sources claimed that doping – either through ingestion or injection – had long been practised in the sport.

They also claimed that existing drug policy put in place three years' ago specifically "targets and discourages" black drivers" from competing in what was once a predominantly white sport."

"As far as they (DHPC) were concerned, it was only the black boys down there who were drugging their horses. But these guys have been drugging their horses for a long time and it's only now that a different segment in the community can afford to buy these expensive horses that drug testing has been introduced," one source close to the sport told The Gazette on condition of anonymity.

He also dismissed DeCosta's claims made earlier in the week that the use of steroids such as testosterone were not used in the sport.

"These guys are using testosterone, coffee or red bull but know there is chance they can get picked to be drug tested. There are some drugs that can be fed, but testosterone is injected. And I have seen people inject horses with banned substances before," he added.

As for claims of discrimination in the sport, he added: "At Vesey Street you have all sorts of discrimination – black and white and then you have those with lots of money who want to belittle people who they feel don't have any. There needs to be a level playing field put in place."

DeCosta, however, refuted claims that current drug testing policies targeted any particular group.

"The policy was voted and accepted by all of the members and so I just can't see anyone saying the rules discriminate," he commented.

"There is absolutely no discrimination in harness racing and I just don't how anyone can feel that way.

"This is absolutely untrue because every driver is treated the same. Everything we do is for the betterment of the sport, and not any individual driver."

The DHPC boss has also vowed to clamp down on any would-be drug cheats in the wake of the scandal that has cast a dark cloud over the sport.

"We want our sport to be on a level playing field just like any other. We plan to continue drug testing in order to keep a drug free policy and we will go from there," he declared.