Darren Williams' application for a riding licence has been rejected by the British Horseracing Authority.
Jockey's future in limbo following application denial
Darren Williams' application for a riding licence has been rejected by the British Horseracing Authority.
The jockey completed a three-month suspension for his part in a race-fixing inquiry after he admitted to passing information for reward when facing a disciplinary panel in June.
However, following last month's hearing his application to resume riding has been turned down after being given a further two weeks to present character references.
A statement released on Thursday read: "At the meeting of the Licensing Committee this morning, in consideration of Darren Williams' application for a Flat Jockeys Licence, the Committee has decided that it is not prepared to grant the application. The Committee has confirmed that reasons for its decision will be available in the next seven days".
Paul Struthers, Media Relations Manager for the BHA, said: "Until we receive the written reasons we do not know on what grounds the Committee has reached it decision. However, I can confirm the three grounds for the Authority's decision to oppose Darren Williams' licence application.
"Firstly, Darren Williams' assertions to the Licensing Committee (when applying for his licence following the collapse of the criminal trial) that his extensive contact with Miles Rodgers, whilst Rodgers was disqualified, was not in connection with racing when he subsequently admitted to the Disciplinary Panel that it was.
"Secondly, his failure to comply with an Order of the Disciplinary Panel that he disclose his Defence Case statement from the criminal trial, having persistently failed to disclose this document throughout the investigation. Finally, that Darren Williams had failed to accept his wrongdoing or show any sign of remorse for it.
"We consider it fundamental to the integrity of the sport that those who seek to corrupt racing no longer assume that they can simply return as a licensed individual once they have served a period of disqualification.
"They must establish that they are cogniscent of the seriousness of the offences they have committed, that they no longer pose an ongoing threat to the integrity of the sport and that they are a 'fit and proper' person to hold a licence. That is why we have suitability criteria and why anybody returning from a suspension or disqualification for serious offences can in future expect a similar level of scrutiny.
"We plan to introduce enhanced suitability criteria for all licensed and registered persons and, through the annual Penalties Review process, to significantly increase the penalties for serious breaches of the Rules of Racing, both of which should be in place in early 2010."
