Two men charged in connection with Currie

Two men have been charged in connection to allegations of fraud against trainer Ben Currie.

Police have arrested and charged two men with fraud in connection to allegations against Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie who has been charged with a similar offence.

The men are not racing industry participants but are associates of Currie who was charged with fraud on Tuesday in relation to allegations of using enhancing methods to improve his horses chances of earning prize money over a two -ear period to March this year.

Currie was bailed to appear in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on July 15.

He is also currently serving a seven-and-a-half year disqualification for a wide-ranging number of offences including using race day treatments, enhancing agents and positive swabs including two to cocaine.

Currie has lodged various appeals against those convictions but is also facing a further 20 charges under racing rules.

A Queensland Racing Integrity Commission spokesperson confirmed the two men arrested on Wednesday were not known to be racing participants.

“As they are not racing licensees it is a matter for police,” the spokesperson said.

In a media release the Queensland Police Service said the charges followed a 14-month investigation by officers from the Queensland Racing Crime Squad.

The statement said the charges were the result of Operation Quebec Creed, an investigation into suspected doping practices by a network of people involved in the thoroughbred racing industry.

It said a 49-year-old man from Forestdale was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated fraud, and bailed to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 16.

A 41-year-old male from Lockyer Waters was also arrested and charged with one count of aggravated fraud and bailed to appear at Gatton Magistrates Court on July 15.

It is alleged both men enabled and facilitated the administration of unregistered horse supplements by a third party which resulted in dishonestly obtaining a financial benefit through thoroughbred race winnings.