The package containing the B sample of urine from Olympic gold medal-winning horse, Waterford Crystal, was collected in the driveway of a Cambridgeshire forensic laboratory by a person who identified themselves as being a laboratory employee, The Irish Times has learned.
The person who signed for the delivery of the package containing the sample in the driveway of the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory (HFL) in Fordham on October 21st appeared to have HFL identification.
A source close to the police investigation in Britain, said: "The courier firm that delivered the parcel had been called by someone instructing them to hand over the package to someone in the driveway."
Entry to the laboratory is protected by a security barrier. Anyone approaching the laboratory must stop at the security barrier and announce themselves to an intercom, before the barrier is lifted, according to a source at the laboratory.
The distance between the road and the security barrier is about 50 metres, "so a van or vehicle could drive in and stop, or be intercepted, on the driveway before reaching the security barrier", the source said.
The freight delivery firm DHL confirmed yesterday it was contracted to ship Waterford Crystal's B urine sample from Paris to Cambridgeshire.
A spokesman, Mr Matthew Zamoyski, said: "Yes, we were carrying the package. We are obviously aware that it is missing and we are working with the police. They have a wider investigation ongoing and this is one aspect of it. We believe there has been foul play by a third party."
The HFL takes delivery of around 15,000 horse samples a year.
The laboratory source said anyone who wanted to intercept a specific delivery would have to know the consignment number of that delivery. "We are as sure as we can be that no-one from HFL signed for the delivery; the package never crossed our security barrier."
The source said the driveway and the security barrier could be clearly seen from inside the HFL building. No official HFL passes had been reported missing, the source added.
Following the theft of the urine sample, a blood sample from Waterford Crystal due to be sent to Hong Kong for confirmatory analysis has now been re-routed to the USA Equestrian Drug Testing and Research Laboratory in New York.
Cian O'Connor has arranged for his witnessing analyst to be present at the testing, which is due to begin next Monday.