Top jockey Frankie Dettori faces inquiry after positive test
Top Flat jockey Frankie Dettori is to face an inquiry next week after failing a drugs test in France.
News surfaced yesterday (Tuesday 13 November) that the 41-year-old jockey failed a random test on 16 September at Longchamp racecourse in Paris, where he had four rides that day.
The hearing with French racing’s governing body, France Galop, will begin next week.
Frankie, one of the most well-known figures in racing, faces a six-month worldwide ban from the sport.
Frankie’s solicitor, Christopher Stewart-Moore, issued a statement: “On behalf of Frankie Dettori I can confirm that, as a consequence of a positive test at Longchamp on 16 September , he will be the subject of an inquiry by the medical committee of France Galop next week.
“In compliance with, and out of respect for, the regulations of France Galop, he will not be commenting further until the France Galop procedures have been completed.”
He added that the banned substance does not relate to a performance-enhancing drug.
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Last month the three-times champion jockey parted company with Godolphin after 18 years. It was announced that the retainer “was not really working” and that Frankie needed “a new challenge”.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.