Racing League star Sean Levey stood down from finale rides on medical grounds

Classic-winning jockey Sean Levey was stood down from his rides at Newcastle on Thursday evening by the BHA due to medical reasons.

Levey’s absence from Newcastle meant he missed out on a £20,000 bonus awarded to the leading jockey during the Racing League, the final round of which took place on Thursday.

He had been 59 points clear of his nearest rival, Harrison Shaw, but a stunning 6,539-1 treble for Saffie Osborne on the night saw her overtake both to claim the leading rider crown.

Levey, 34, rode at Yarmouth on Tuesday and had been due to take one mount at Sandown on Wednesday before the BHA stepped in, with the jockey understood to have failed a test for a prohibited substance. He was also taken off his rides on Friday at Newbury.

BHA rules state jockeys must not ride with banned substances in their body, be they drugs or alcohol. If a rider fails a breathalyser test for alcohol, they are stood down for the day of the failed test.

The BHA declined to comment, stating the matter was “confidential”.

Levey’s agent Sash Righton said on Thursday that he had not been made aware of why the jockey was unable to ride, but added that he did not believe the rider had sustained any injury that would prevent him from being able to compete.

Sean Levey: Richard Hannon has provided the jockey with the bulk of his rides this seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Former champion Flat trainer Richard Hannon has provided Levey with the bulk of his rides this season, with the pair teaming up for Group 1 success in the Prix Jean Romanet with Aristia last month. Asked on Thursday if he had been made aware of any reason why the jockey was not riding, Hannon said: “No. I have no idea at all.”

Levey’s non-appearance comes a week after Marco Ghiani, last year’s champion apprentice, was stood down from riding at Brighton over a suspected failed drugs test. Neither rider is listed as being medically suspended on the BHA website.

Previous riders who have failed drugs tests in Britain have had their licence suspended for six months by the disciplinary panel. Oisin Murphy was suspended for three months at the end of 2020 for a failed drugs test in France after it was argued the positive was the result of environmental contamination following a sexual encounter.

In May last year, new rapid saliva tests that are able to detect the metabolites of banned substances were introduced in weighing rooms. The tests are able to produce results within 15 minutes, with jockeys stood down and further laboratory testing taking place on samples.

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