Cocaine shame jockey Marco Ghiani banned for six months and stripped of licence after positive test
CHAMPION apprentice jockey Marco Ghiani has been banned for six months and stripped of his licence after testing positive for cocaine.
Dad-of-one Ghiani, 23, returned a positive urine sample at Newcastle races in August.
PADad-of-one Ghiani has been banned for six months after testing positive for cocaine[/caption]
PAThe Italian rider is one of Flat racing’s most exciting prospects but has now been stripped of his licence[/caption]
He had ridden in three races on the day before testing positive for the Class A drug.
Rory Mac Neice, a lawyer representing Italian rider Ghiani, said: “Mr Ghiani is hugely embarrassed by this matter and accepts it was a grave error of judgement on his part.
“He has reflected considerably since on how he got into that position.
“Mr Ghiani succumbed to the temptation at a time when he felt vulnerable professionally.
“He puts a great deal of pressure on himself to succeed for those who engage him to ride his horses and he considers he has had some difficulties in being objective when he has felt his performance has resulted in his horses not running to the best of their abilities.”
Ghiani’s licence withdrawal begins from September 5, when he was initially stood down.
The jockey tested positive for 301 ng/ml of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine – more than double the British Horseracing Authority’s threshold.
More to follow.
