Rival 'doped Crufts dog'

A Crufts competitor has claimed his dobermann bitch was drugged by a jealous rival shortly before it went into the ring.

Clive Evans and his wife Nancy had high hopes for 22-month-old Kerri in the top dog show.

But they believe she was given sedative-spiked meat, causing her to collapse moments before competing in the open bitch category.

She began shaking and was seconds from crashing to the floor in front of the crowd.

The Kennel Club launched an inquiry after vets agreed she appeared to be doped.

Mr Evans, 44, said: 'Kerri was listless and she just got worse. If you had just pushed her gently on the side she would have fallen over.

'These incidents have happened in the breed before,' he added.

'This is how competitive it is. It's just jealousy.'

The dog warden, from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, warned whoever did it to 'look out'. Vet Trevor Turner said Kerri - whose showname is Amazon What's Up Pussycat JW - showed signs of being sedated.

The Kennel Club is considering reports from two vets and examining CCTV footage.

It said it would be 'an absolute disgrace' if Kerri, who was second in the dobermann pinscher puppy class last year, was drugged.

Crufts spokesman Phil Buckley added drugging was rare. The incident was the only report of doping in last week's four-day event.