PJA denies jockeys 'culture of silence' claim and demands end to bullying case

The Professional Jockeys Association has launched a fierce attack on the BHA, describing the length of time taken for allegations of bullying made by Bryony Frost to be investigated and brought to a conclusion as "unacceptable".

The PJA's latest intervention comes the day after a second damaging story in as many weekends appeared in The Sunday Times, a follow-up from an investigation into claims of bullying levelled by Frost at fellow jockey Robbie Dunne.

The statement from the PJA sought to defend the image of jockeys and described widespread unhappiness among the association's membership caused by media coverage suggesting the culture of British weighing rooms allows bullying to take place and discourages anyone raising concerns externally.

Dunne's lawyers have already argued that the leak of information featured in the first article means a fair hearing will be impossible when the case is heard by the independent disciplinary panel and the PJA echoed that view in its statement, calling for the case to be dropped.

The statement read: "The BHA has been aware of a potential data breach in relation to the leaked documents since August and reported itself at that time to the Information Commissioner's Office. It is vital that the investigation into the data breach is concluded as a matter of urgency, the cause of the data breach identified and anyone involved held to account for the distress caused.

"The length of time taken in bringing this case to a conclusion is unacceptable. Now that material has been leaked to the media, and the information leaked is the charge letter and accompanying documentation that should only have been available to the BHA, Robbie Dunne and his legal advisers, a fair hearing is impossible.

"The matter cannot now be permitted to proceed and we call upon the BHA to bring this matter to an end, however unsatisfactory that is."

Paul Struthers: Professional Jockeys Association chief executiveCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Sunday Times follow-up story, written by the respected journalist David Walsh, concentrated on witness testimony from a number of jockeys as well as three valets. The story described the weighing room as having a "culture of silence" and claimed "camaraderie between jockeys has created a culture that condones threatening behaviour and frowns upon those who report it".

The PJA statement added: "The PJA is aware that its membership is upset by the negative headlines about the culture in the weighing room that have been circulating this past week. The PJA understands and sympathises with their frustration, particularly from those female jockeys who have contacted us. We are grateful to them for respecting the process that must be allowed to conclude.

"The PJA published a code of conduct in May which was the first of its kind in racing. We expect our members to abide by this code. We want to ensure that our sport welcomes everyone and we agree that people need to be held to account against a set of rules and codes of expected behaviour.

"We do not, however, accept the explicit and implied criticism of our membership as laid out in recent articles. The PJA does accept that there are 'heat of the moment' exchanges, not uncommon in sport, that are quickly resolved and there may also be occasions when behaviours do fall short of the PJA's code of conduct and the rules of racing."

The BHA is understood to be considering its position in terms of a response to the PJA statement.

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