Jockey banned for failing drugs test and swapping urine samples

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has banned jockey Graham Gibbons for a combined two and a half years after he tested positive for a metabolite of cocaine and then swapped urine samples.

After the 7 December meeting at Kempton, Gibbons stepped down from racing after he was alleged to have swapped urine samples with fellow jockey Callum Shepherd, who faced no charge.

The BHA has confirmed that Gibbons was charged with a breach of rule (D)65 “by virtue of the fact that a urine sample taken from him on December 7, 2016 at Kempton racecourse tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine and, pursuant to rule (D)58 and schedule (D)3 Part 1, a banned substance”.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Gibbons was also charged with breaking rule (A)30.1 by “acting in a manner prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and/or good reputation of horseracing in Great Britain by his actions on December 7, 2016 when he attempted to present another jockey’s urine as his own when required to submit a sample for testing purposes”.

He received a two-year suspension for swapping urine samples and six months for the positive test. The ban will run until 8 June 2019.

The BHA tweeted: “Graham Gibbons, found in breach of Rule (D)65, received 6 months suspension from 9 Dec 2016 to 8 June 2017 inclusive. Gibbons also found in breach of Rule (A)30 and receives a two year suspension from 9 June 2017 until 8 June 2019 inclusive.

“The Disciplinary Panel's reasons for their decision will follow in due course.”