Kieran O’Neill has been left livid after being stood down at Southwell following two non-negative swab assessments, a call the jockey has described as “embarrassing”.
O’Neill was unable to take his two rides on the Nottinghamshire venue on Tuesday evening after failing two sweat/saliva samples.
In response to BHA guidelines, ought to the second pattern additionally return non-negative then, within the pursuits of security for horses and riders, the jockey needs to be stood down for the day.
Nevertheless, O’Neill’s urine pattern returned a damaging outcome on-course and has been despatched off to a lab to be checked with the outcomes anticipated on Wednesday night.
O’Neill insists it’ll return damaging, stating that his title has been wrongly tarnished as a result of inaccuracy of the testing, with the jockey set to journey at Kempton on Wednesday evening if returning a damaging pattern.
O’Neill mentioned on X (previously Twitter) on Tuesday night: “Have simply returned house from Southwell races the place I suffered the embarrassment of being stood down for a failed drug swab.
“I’ve by no means taken a drug in my life and later came upon that as my urine pattern is obvious I can resume race using tomorrow. The present system is flawed.
“Those that have supported me for nearly 20 years in the saddle know that I have never touched a drug so this inaccuracy is a major worry.
“If I used to be a youthful jockey making my approach within the sport, this could be so damaging. I’m fuming and would really like some solutions.”
The BHA has stated that the agreed process has been followed, adding that “the right course of have to be allowed to take its course”.
A BHA assertion issued on Wednesday morning learn: “The BHA is aware of a social media post by Kieran O’Neill giving an account of the non-negative sweat/saliva samples returned at Southwell racecourse yesterday.
“The method for dealing with non-negative samples on raceday as a part of the continued pilot of sweat/saliva sampling was agreed between the BHA and PJA. As a part of the agreed course of, which utilises a Dwelling Workplace-approved testing package utilized by police forces globally, ought to a rider return a non-negative pattern then they are going to be examined a second time.
“Should the second sample also return non-negative then, in the interests of safety for horses and riders, the jockey should be stood down for the day. Mr O’Neill was stood down on the day having provided two non-negative samples.
“16 jockeys had been examined yesterday and 16 on Monday with solely Mr O’Neill returning these two non-negative samples. As a part of the method a urine pattern screening can also be to be taken on the day.
“This is for indicative processes only as part of the trial. It operates to different thresholds, and does not form part of the immediate regulatory process. Mr O’Neill’s urine sample returned a negative result on-course but is not relevant to his being able to ride today and beyond.
“This identical urine pattern can also be despatched away for evaluation on the official testing laboratory. Mr O’Neill will likely be permitted to journey immediately and past, pending the return of this urine outcome, offered he returns a damaging sweat/saliva pattern previous to weighing out. A hair pattern can even be taken.
“Ensuring the safety of jockeys competing in our sport is a priority for the BHA. We appreciate the strength of feeling from Mr O’Neill but this alone is not enough to make judgement about the testing process, or its ability to detect the intentional or sometimes inadvertent presence of substances in a rider’s system. The proper process must be allowed to take its course.”