'A huge mistake' - Marco Ghiani banned for six months for cocaine positive

Last year's champion apprentice Marco Ghiani has described his decision to take cocaine as "the most stupid of his life" after his licence was on Thursday withdrawn for six months following a positive test in August.

Ghiani tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, at Newcastle on August 25, with his sample recorded at 301 ng/ml – double the BHA's threshold.

He had ridden in three races at the all-weather fixture before providing a urine sample that subsequently tested positive for the banned substance.

The licence withdrawal begins from September 5 when the rider was initially stood down.

Ghiani told the Racing Post after the verdict: "It was the most stupid decision I have made in my life. I've got to take the consequences for what I did.

"I have had a lot of help from the PJA [Professional Jockeys Association] and the people who have stayed around me, even when times have been hard. I'm riding out, working hard and keeping fit.

"I was caught early so I had not become addicted, which is good, and I'm looking forward to coming back after my huge mistake in March."

Ghiani is considered one of the rising stars of the weighing room. He enjoyed Royal Ascot and Group-race success with Real World in 2021 and rode 64 winners this year.

Real World: among the high-profile winners for Marco GhianiCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Tomás Nolan, representing the BHA, said Ghiani had made frank admissions about his cocaine use. The jockey had taken the drug while on holiday in Italy in July and again in England the following month. He had last taken cocaine two days before he rode at Newcastle.

Rory Mac Neice, representing Ghiani, stressed the Italian rider is intent on working hard to regain the trust of his weighing-room colleagues.

Mac Neice said: "Mr Ghiani is hugely embarrassed by this matter and accepts it was a grave error of judgement on his part. He has reflected considerably since on how he got into that position.

"Mr Ghiani succumbed to the temptation at a time when he felt vulnerable professionally. He puts a great deal of pressure on himself to succeed for those who engage him to ride his horses and he considers he has had some difficulties in being objective when he has felt his performance has resulted in his horses not running to the best of their abilities.

"He has a character tendency to move on from successes almost instantly, while allowing perceived failures to stay with him for a considerable length of time. One consequence of the positive is it has triggered an awareness by him of the very considerable support available to him, particularly from the PJA, with counselling and help regarding these issues – something he previously felt unable to ask for.

"Being caught so quickly, and it's indicative of the success of the anti-doping regime the BHA has in place, means he has and continues to be able to address those underlying pressures. We thank the BHA for approaching this matter in a sensitive and thoughtful manner.

"Mr Ghiani has apologised unreservedly, and most fundamentally, to his fellow jockeys. He feels they would be entirely justified in feeling he had let them down by his use of cocaine and he will work hard to regain their trust. He hopes he will be given a chance to make amends for that error of judgement."

Riders can face suspensions starting at two months or as long as half a year for a failed drugs test, with the presence of cocaine in Ghiani's system while competing a key factor in his suspension coming in at the top end.

In delivering the verdict, Philip Curl, the chair of the panel, said: "The panel wish to emphasise that the seriousness of this offence lies in placing in potential jeopardy the health and safety of the jockeys and horses in the races in which you participated so soon after taking cocaine.

"We trust, when you have served this withdrawal of licence, that you will return to racing and never offend in this way again and have a successful career."

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