COCAINE is a ‘problem’ among jockeys says a top racing boss – who wants to impose ONE YEAR bans for positive tests.
Professional Jockeys Association chief Paul Struthers says jockeys are testing positive for cocaine with ‘alarming regularity’.
His comments come in the same week jockey Nathan Evans was given a six-month ban for taking the Class A drug.
Luke McGuinness last month became the first jockey in Ireland to test positive for cocaine on two separate occasions.
He had his licence suspended until December 2021 at the earliest.
And champion jockey Oisin Murphy – who denied taking cocaine – was hit with a three-month ban after it was found in his system.
French stewards decided to cut his ban in half following the results of a hair test and Murphy’s own account that he was contaminated after having sex with a person he later discovered to be a user.
Struthers told the Racing Post his comments are in no way related to Murphy’s ban.
But speaking of the drug’s prevalence in racing as a whole, he said: “Cocaine is clearly an issue in society and I think it’s quite obvious that, in pockets, our members are reflecting that wider issue.
“However, I think it would be naive of us not to accept there is an issue surrounding cocaine use among jockeys, whether that’s recreationally or, as we’ve experienced once or twice, bigger personal problems with the drug.
“I would be completely disingenuous if I said there isn’t a problem.
“This is something that needs addressing.
“We need to have significantly more testing – and I really do mean significantly more.
“At the moment, the chances of someone being caught are slim, yet we are still getting cocaine positives with alarming regularity.”
Struthers is also urging the British Horseracing Authority to dish out more severe punishments for those who test positive for cocaine.
He added: “A six-month penalty is significant, and is damaging both financially and reputationally.
‘DOUBLE PENALTY TO A YEAR’
“But one thing we’re looking at is doubling the penalty to a year.
“However, as in Ireland, if you take certain steps you could bring the penalty down to six months.
“Those steps might be submitting to hair testing or engaging in support if it was felt to be needed.”
BHA head of media Robin Mounsey said: “We share the concerns of the PJA regarding recent increases in cocaine positives.
“We’re aware that a range of sports, including racing, are seeing such increases, as is wider society in general.
“Substance use can have a terrible impact on health and mental wellbeing and presents a significant safety risk.
“We are working hard to prevent it becoming a major issue in our sport.”
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