Paul Carberry: got 30-day ban and a €5,000 fine after failing a breath test
PICTURE: Edward WhitakerCarberry vows not to let alcohol ruin his career
PAUL CARBERRY has vowed he would not let alcohol affect his career again after he was rocked by a 30-day ban and a €5,000 fine after failing a breath test for the second time at Naaslast month.
Noel Meade: issued stern warning
PICTURE: Caroline NorrisThe jockey also received a stern warning from his boss, trainer Noel Meade.
Carberry incurred a three-day ban as well as being stood down on the day for his first positive test for alcohol at the Galway festival in 2007.
Meade described the latest ban as harsh, but said that Carberry was running out of chances.
"I'm not condoning what Paul did as he had to get a penalty but overall I thought it was harsh and pretty severe and it looks unbelievable," he said.
"As long as Paul stays off the drink, he'll ride for me and if he doesn't stay off it, he doesn't ride for me any more, simple as that. I've told him so."
The suspension handed down by the Turf Club referrals committee on Wednesday starts on November 25 and applies to days when there is racing in Ireland, which means he cannot return until the Thurles fixture on January 28 next year, ruling him out of some of the biggest meetings of the winter, including Leopardstown's prestigious Christmas meeting. However, he is allowed to ride in Britainon blank days in Ireland.
The rider appeared before a three-man panel chaired by Dr Gordon Holmes and assisted by Turf Club members PJ O'Connor and Edward Flannery. Solicitor Andrew Coonan represented Carberry at the hearing, which lasted an hour and a half.
Afterwards, a visibly dejected Carberry said: "It's a long ban and I'm really disappointed with the end result as to miss out on all of Christmas and well into January is big blow.
"I'll have to think about going to Britain on blank days over here and I'll have to keep fit in the hunting field. I hope to put all this behind me, keep fit in the meantime, and come back more focused.
"I intend not letting thishappen again and I'm adamant alcohol will not interfere with my riding in future as I don't want to end my career in this fashion."
