Luke McGuinness the first rider in Ireland to test positive for cocaine twice

Luke McGuinness has become the first jockey in Ireland to test positive for cocaine on two separate occasions and has had his licence suspended until December 2021 at the earliest.

McGuinness, has ridden 17 winners – nine of them for Gordon Elliott – but was hit with a six-year suspension after testing positive for cocaine for a second time at a point-to-point at Tyrella on January 25.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board referrals committee said it would consider an application to suspend the six-year penalty from December 22 of next year should McGuinness comply with strict terms and conditions in the interim.

Those terms include continuing to regularly engage with the IHRB’s chief medical officer Dr Jennifer Pugh and counsellor Pat Brennan while maintaining his employment as well as carrying out any out-of-competition testing when requested.

McGuinness picked up a two-year ban in March of 2018 after testing positive for cocaine for the first time at Navan in November of 2017.

He was allowed to ride again after six months following a review, but the second positive sample means the remaining 18 months of the original ban is reactivated. That started from June of this year.

In evidence given to the referrals panel, Pugh said McGuinness had approached her for support in early 2019 and in September of that year had also availed himself of Brennan's services.

Dr Jennifer Pugh: said McGuinness had made significant progressCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

She said that McGuinness had completed an intense five-month residential programme from May to October 2020 in a Cuan Mhuire treatment centre and he had made significant progress since February.

In his evidence, McGuinness outlined difficulties he had experienced and accepted he had failed to make the most of his opportunities since serving his first suspension.

He confirmed the details of his rehabilitation programme and acknowledged he now recognised he did not properly address some unresolved issues following his first suspension.

Ross McLeigh also returned a positive test for cocaine from a sample taken at Leopardstown in March.

The amateur rider was suspended for four years, starting from June 22, but that decision will be reviewed within one year should McLeigh reapply for his licence.

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