Frankie Dettori. 'Positive test'. Faces inquiry.

[Vermilion]

Frankie Dettori faces a French horse racing inquiry after a 'positive test' at French track Longchamp in September.

The jockey's solicitor, Christopher Stewart-Moore, said the inquiry, by France Galop, would begin next week.

In a statement, Stewart-Moore said: "As a consequence of a positive test at Longchamp on 16 September 2012, he will be the subject of an inquiry by the medical committee of France Galop."

The British-based Italian, 41, had four rides at Longchamp on that day.

The Sunday meet was a day of major trials for October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting.

Dettori rode Marco Botti's Joshua Tree to third in the Qatar Prix Foy, while the John Hammond-trained Sarah Lynx trailed home last in the Prix Vermeille.

He was then beaten by a head into second on Godolphin's Farhh in the Prix du Moulin and was third for his former employers on Willing Foe in the Prix Gladiateur.
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France Galop have not commented on proceedings and in keeping with similar previous cases, they have not issued a statement before the hearing.

Last month Dettori split with Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation after an 18-year association.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/20316457

[BobTheCharmer]

positive for what? to see if he's a battery?

[Vermilion]

positive for what? to see if he's a battery?

It's a wild far out guess, but i'm thinking a performance enhancing drug ?

But Nah, you're probably right, it's more likely to be the 'is he a battery test'.

[EwarWoo]

As long as the horse isn't on drugs it shouldn't matter too much should it?

[Gibbo]

How can you enhance a jockeys performance?

[Assassin]

From the British horse racing Authority

Drug testing of jockeys

This is co-ordinated by the Chief Medical Adviser and is carried out on behalf of the British Horseracing Authority by Concateno, the largest provider of employment based drug screening in Europe.

The emphasis is on testing jockeys for any product that is performance impairing (e.g. alcohol, cocaine and cannabis). Unlike some sports where the use of a proprietary nasal decongestant could result in a lengthy suspension, the focus is on providing a safe arena for competition in the most dangerous of all professional sports.

Any impairment of performance could not only pose a serious risk to the safety of the jockey concerned but it could also put other jockey’s lives at risk.

You can download Protocols and rules for the testing of riders for banned substances and procedures for notifiable medications, including a list of all banned substances for jockeys.

Testing days are split between breathalyser-only testing days and urine-only testing days:
On a breathalyser testing day, all the jockeys riding at that particular meeting will be tested, and anyone failing the test twice will be stood down from riding for the day. Further disciplinary action will depend on the levels of alcohol found.

On urine testing days, up to 12 riders are chosen by ballot and the urine is tested for performance impairing drugs as mentioned above.

[Shaggy]

How can you enhance a jockeys performance?

By building up his strength?

[spud_gun]

Diuretics to help him loose weight?

[Fivex]

Or maybe shedding some weight in time?

Spud

[Shaggy]

Yep.

Be a real shame if Dettori is shown to have been a cheat.

[Vermilion]

Yep.

Be a real shame if Dettori is shown to have been a cheat.

But do you think he'd have been at it all his career if this turns out to be performance enhancing ? i was thinking he'd maybe turned to it as he got older, with his place as top jockey for Godolphin under threat.

But whether he has or not, his whole career will be tarnished anyway. Sad if proved.

[Shaggy]

Yep.

I remember watching him go through the card at Ascot. Man I was pissed up that day

[Pedenj]

Seems a few people are now saying that he has tested positive for Cocaine

[Shaggy]

Now that would not surprise me

[Assassin]

Diuretics to help him loose weight?

He admitted to doing these before they were banned. After he said the ruling to ban these substances. "Would only force jockeys into Bulimia to keep their weight down"