Ryan Clark receives six-month ban by BHA
Thursday 17 November 2016 22:50, UK
Jockey Ryan Clark has been banned for six months by the disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority after testing positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
Clark was tested at Lingfield Park in September and admitted to BHA investigating officers in October that he had become intoxicated on a night out and could not remember much about the evening due to the amount of alcohol that he had consumed.
He was represented by Rory Mac Neice, who submitted that Clark accepted full responsibility for his mistake and was determined to get his career back on track.
Mac Neice stated that should the BHA require it, Clark would make himself available for interim drug testing during the period of the suspension imposed, September 30, 2016 to March 29, 2017 inclusive.
Trainer Jason Ward was given a £1,200 fine for acting "in a manner which was prejudicial to the good reputation of horseracing in Great Britain."
Ward was interviewed live on At The Races after Monte Cinq won at Wolverhampton on November 1.
The panel said he made a comment which "referenced an offensive and inappropriate racial connotation" and led to adverse publicity for the sport.
Ward apologised immediately and on his website and stated it was not his intention to offend anyone.
