Mark Kavanagh and Danny O'Brien banned over doping

Trainer Mark Kavanagh has received a three-year ban after one of his horses failed a drug test

Two leading Australian trainers have been banned after their horses failed drugs tests.

Melbourne Cup winner Mark Kavanagh was banned for three years and Danny O'Brien for four over the use of cobalt chloride, which exceeded permitted levels, according to Racing Victoria.

Kavanagh, who won Australia's biggest race in 2009 with Shocking, and O'Brien are appealing against the verdicts.

Vet Dr Tom Brennan was given a five-year ban.

Four of O'Brien's horses and one trained by Kavanagh failed tests after urine samples were taken in 2014.

"We have raised issues over how this whole process has played out over the last 12 months," O'Brien said.

The trainers will appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and were granted a stay of proceedings allowing their horses to run until Friday.

A Racing Victoria statement said the governing body was "fully committed to enforcing the rules of racing and protecting the integrity of the sport".

Peter Moody, trainer of the record-breaking sprinter Black Caviar, is still awaiting the verdict in a case centred on another of his horses.