AusLeisure

Greyhound Racing Victoria Chief Executive Adam Wallish has announced he is leaving the governing body.

Wallish's decision to not seek a three-year contract extension comes as the greyhound racing industry continues to reel from the live baiting scandal exposed by the ABC's Four Corners program in February.

Some of Victoria's most prominent trainers were suspended after shocking vision was aired showing greyhounds being trained using live pigs, possums and rabbits.

Wallish described his decision to leave GRV as amicable and praised the organisation's staff.

He told the ABC "I am proud of what has been achieved during my term as CEO and pay tribute to the work of GRV's high-quality staff."

GRV board member and former Chairman Ray Gunston said Wallish left with the good wishes of the board.

However, in the wake of the live baiting scandal and the recommendations of the Racing Integrity Commissioner (RIC) and the Chief Veterinary Officer, Gunston said the industry faced new challenges.

Gunston stated "GRV now faces many new challenges in working with the Victorian Government and the Victorian greyhound industry participants to implement the recommendations of these reports."

In June, RIC Sal Perna found overwhelming circumstantial evidence of live baiting in the Victorian industry.

Perna's inquiry was highly critical of GRV's welfare practices, with one unnamed welfare officer telling him GRV took a "softly, softly" approach to trainers who broke the rules.

That view was supported by documents obtained by the ABC in May which showed that stewards had concerns as early as 2013 about the track which was later shown to be the scene of horrific animal cruelty.

Despite their concerns, GRV took no action against the operators of the trial track until it was raided by police and the RSPCA in February.

Wallish's decision to leave GRV follows the departure of the chief executives of Greyhound Racing New South Wales and Racing Queensland in the wake of the live baiting scandal.

17th July 2015 - RACING QUEENSLAND FACES ‘FINANCIAL DISASTER’ AMID CORRUPTION PROBE

19th February 2015 - GREYHOUND RACING NSW BOARD STEPS DOWN AS GREYHOUND RACING VICTORIA GETS $3 MILLION GIFT

16th February 2015 - ABC LIVE BAITING REVELATIONS TO BE ‘EXTREMELY DAMAGING’ TO AUSTRALIAN GREYHOUND RACING INDUSTRY

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