The chairman of Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) has resigned from the organisation’s board after evidence of live animal baiting in the sport aired last week.

Peter Caillard, who joined the board in 2012, said he believed he was accountable as chairman and could not remain in his position.

“Since the Four Corners program and subsequent discussions and developments, I have made the personal decision that I cannot remain as chairman,” he said in a statement.

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“I believe in accountability for a chairman of an organisation and that it is in the best interests of the industry that a new person be appointed to this position.

“I wish to emphasise that I am firmly of the view that the new team that has been put in place at GRV are the right people to work with the RSPCA to stamp out this activity once they are given the appropriate powers to do so.”

Inquiries were launched in Victoria after the ABC’s Four Corners revealed the use of live baiting to train greyhounds.

Pigs, possums and rabbits were mauled to death by the racing dogs, the program reported.

In Victoria, 15 trainers were suspended and all dogs under their charge banned from racing until the investigation into live baiting has been completed.

However, GRV reversed that decision on Saturday under the condition that greyhound owners signed statutory declarations that they had made “reasonable inquiries” that their dogs were not involved with live baiting.

Mr Caillard said he would continue to work with the RSPCA and the Victorian Government to bring those responsible for live baiting to justice.

“I am pleased this activity has been discovered and have no doubt it will be stamped out,” he said.

“I take this opportunity to congratulate the Government on taking such swift action in addressing this repulsive behaviour and taking a considered approach.

“It is a difficult time for all three codes of racing but I have no doubt that the industry will change and prosper given the leadership that you have already demonstrated in such a short period of time.”

Mr Caillard said he was distressed that changes he had made to clean up the industry as chairman had not prevented “the type of sickening practices seen at the privately-owned Tooradin trial track”.

“Although I had read that the archaic practice of live baiting had occurred years ago, it was distressing to discover it was still occurring in recent times,” he said.

“Had this practice been brought to my attention earlier then it could have been stopped earlier.

“It was not and I did not.”