Rider Molly Gunn banned for six months after testing positive for cocaine

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Flat jockey Molly Gunn has been banned for six months after testing positive for cocaine at Wolverhampton in December.

The 26-year-old rider is based with Tony Carroll and provided a sample on December 13, when she rode the trainer's Verona Star to finish 11th in the 1m1½f handicap.

Two days later she rode Under Curfew at Lingfield and a further two days later she partnered You Are Everything at Kempton before her licence was suspended on December 23 pending investigation.

Gunn's six-month ban has been backdated. She is recovering from an injury which would not see her return before the end of the suspension.

A disciplinary hearing took place on Thursday to consider the charge for breaching rule (K)49 following an adverse analytical finding.

Gunn's representative Harry Stewart-Moore said the jockey had co-operated with the BHA and accepted the findings, but maintained she had never taken cocaine and believes the positive test was a result of cross-contamination by a third party. The rider's witness evidence was given in private.

BHA representative Catherine Daly said the sample returned a reading beyond the cut-off to be obtained via cross-contamination and that there was not sufficient evidence to suggest cross-contamination had occurred.

A statement from the Professional Jockeys Association on Gunn's behalf read: "While Molly denies ever taking drugs of any sort, she did not contest the charges or suspension length for a number of reasons, including her injury and the substantial cost involved in evidencing cross-contamination.

"It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage pending the publication of the disciplinary panel's decision.

"Molly would like to thank Tony Carroll and this team for their continued support, and Harry Stewart-Moore for his wise counsel."

Gunn later released her own statement in which she said: "I would never and have never taken drugs. Thank you for all the kind messages I’ve had from people who know this is something I wouldn’t do."

Gunn has ridden 22 winners on the Flat in Britain.

Read more here . . .

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