Aussie Jockey Suspended for Drug Offences - 06-02-08

June 2 - This week the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board based in Melbourne, Australia, dismissed an appeal by jumps jockey, Brian Constable, to lessen the severity of a six-month suspension he received after failing to take a routine drug test.

Chairman of the Board, Judge Russell Lewis, referred to Constable's 'dismal record' as the reason that his appeal was turned down, given that the jockey has five previous drug-related convictions to name, and had recently come off a previous 6 month suspension.

Brian Constable was suspended shortly after failing to provide a urine sample at Sandown on May 14th. He appealed not the length of the suspension but its severity, due to it preventing him from doing any track work or trials, and thus earning any money.

Constable's counsel, George Henderson, in a surprising move, told the board that the jockey accepted his conviction and the length of the suspension, but only wanted to be able to continue riding in trials and doing track work to continue earning a living.

The board heard from head steward at Sandown Park Racecourse, Terry Bailey, who explained to the board that since 2004, Constable had accrued five breaches on drug-related matters to his name, including a 6 month suspension last year for trying to falsify a urine sample at Warrnambool Racecourse.

Said Judge Lewis when tuning Constable's appeal down, 'It appears the appellant has not learned any lessons, which makes his six-month suspension more than lenient as a serial offender.'