Irish trainer Luke Comer has lodged an appeal against the three-year suspension and associated fines set by the Irish Horse Racing Board’s referral committee.

Luke Comer, owner of the Comer Group, has been part of a long-running investigation after his runner He Knows No Fear testing positive for an anabolic steroid in October 2021. A subsequent visit to Comer's yard yielded eleven positive samples for the same substance. 

In an unusual move, the IHRB have lodged their own appeal against the verdict, citing 'undue leniency' and the use of misleading evidence. 

"An appeal has been submitted by Mr Comer against various elements of the decision of the referrals committee," said Niall Cronin, communications manager for the IHRB.

"Additionally, the IHRB has lodged an appeal under rule 27(i)(b). The grounds for appeal are undue leniency of the sanctions imposed on the trainer in respect of the multiple breaches of rule 96 and the breach of rule 272 which were found by the referrals committee."

A date for the appeal has not been released.