Change of protocol by BHA means breath tests for jockeys could increase

Jockeys could face more breath tests for alcohol after the BHA announced it would take the process in-house instead of using an external company.

Since last week, riders have been tested by a BHA raceday assistant or equine welfare and integrity officer as the regulator aims to make the procedure more flexible, targeted, efficient and cost-effective.

A breath-testing kit will be available at every fixture to allow for more intelligence-led testing, although urine samples will still be outsourced.

Work is planned later this year to consider alternative methods in which riders could be tested for prohibited substances for regulatory purposes, the BHA revealed, while a paperless system for the administration of testing will come into force in 2020.

"This is an important and positive step in our testing procedures and will allow us to adopt a smarter and more cost-effective approach to testing," the BHA's head of integrity Chris Watts said. "It will allow us to test more frequently but also with more flexibility, hopefully minimising the impact that it has on riders.

"There are plans to consider other ways in which we test riders later this year, to examine if the testing methods that we use and the matrices that we are testing are as effective as they can be."

Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, welcomed the move, adding: "The PJA and its board has long been in support of increased testing for riders. Bringing breath testing in-house and increasing the flexibility of the testing process are important steps which we fully support."

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