A DETAILED report by the state's Racing Integrity Commissioner has found that Racing Victoria Limited stewards acted properly when handling the investigation into betting irregularities allegedly linked to 21 of Danny Nikolic's rides earlier this year, reports The Age.It states: Sal Perna, the Racing Integrity Commissioner, yesterday maintained that the Nikolic investigation was handled ''thoroughly and meticulously''.''In fact, if the stewards working on the case had not taken the time to study

A DETAILED report by the state's Racing Integrity Commissioner has found that Racing Victoria Limited stewards acted properly when handling the investigation into betting irregularities allegedly linked to 21 of Danny Nikolic's rides earlier this year, reports The Age.

It states: Sal Perna, the Racing Integrity Commissioner, yesterday maintained that the Nikolic investigation was handled ''thoroughly and meticulously''.

''In fact, if the stewards working on the case had not taken the time to study aspects of the case, such as the Betfair accounts, I would have had concerns,'' Perna said.

RVL chief executive Rob Hines said a ''detailed report'' prepared by Perna was supportive of the governing body and the stewards.

''It completely exonerates RVL and the action of stewards and the way they behaved through that whole procedure,'' Hines said. ''All of his findings are extremely supportive of the industry position.''

Perna made his report after Nikolic complained about various aspects of the six-month investigation, which he claimed had adversely affected his reputation. The report also found: ''There is no conclusive evidence to support the complaint that RVL, its stewards or 'integrity department' were the source of information provided to The Australian newspaper about the investigation into 21 of Nikolic's rides between October 2009 and February 2010.

''I accept the RVL view that there was sufficient evidence, albeit circumstantial, to lay charges on the serious offences. In my view, the evidence gathered by RVL stewards could all be considered as forming adequate material to substantiate the laying of charges.''