Three Irish jockeys are set for lengthy suspensions having failed a drugs test.
Johnny Ward reports in the Irish edition of The Times that the three jockeys, two of whom are amateurs, failed the tests due to a substance which was not performance-enhancing.
A failed test will likely incur a lengthy ban for the trio. Racing has endured a difficult relationship with drugs recently, although it is unusual to see three jockeys caught at once.
Last year, jockey Kevin Sexton, who enjoyed success at the Galway Races this summer, was handed a two-year ban with the final 18 months deferred so long as he does not fail another test during that period.
Sexton was told he will be randomly tested by Irish Turf Club's senior medical officer, Adrian McGoldrick, throughout the two years. The Turf Club is the same body which caught these three jockeys although a hearing has not been set for them yet.
Also this year, Irish jockey Graham Gibbons was handed a two-and-a-half year suspension after he failed a drugs test and attempted to swap a urine sample with another jockey.
The identity of the jockeys in these case is as of yet unknown.
Picture credit: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE
