Oisin Murphy faces FIVE-YEAR ban from riding in Japan after testing positive for cocaine in France
- The 25-year-old jockey has forged a significant link with Japan
- Last year Murphy won the prestigious Japan Cup in Tokyo on Suave John
- He also partnered Mitsuru Hashida-trained Deirdre to success in Nassau Stakes
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy’s three-month ban for testing positive for cocaine while riding in France could rule him out of lucrative rides in Japan for the next five years.
The 25-year-old, whose suspension starts on December 11, has forged a significant link with Japan, partnering Mitsuru Hashida-trained mare Deirdre to success in the 2019 Group One Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and riding there during the last two winters.
Last year Murphy won the prestigious Japan Cup in Tokyo on Suave John, a race which carried a first prize of close to £2.2million.
Oisin Murphy’s cocaine ban could rule him out of lucrative rides in Japan for the next five years
Nobu Furuta, an official at the Japan Racing Association’s London office, said licensing applications were judged on a case-by-case basis, but added: ‘Japan is very strict in drug cases and the JRA does not favorably look at the applications of jockeys who have been penalised for roughly five years. I assume Oisin Murphy will be treated basically in the same manner.’
Meanwhile, spectators return to English racecourses today at Haydock, Lingfield, Ludlow and Kempton.
Sportspeople who test positive for cocaine could be banned for just a month under new rules. From January 1, if an athlete proves they took the drug out of competition, they will face a maximum three-month sanction — down from two years. And offenders can cut their punishment by a further two months by doing a rehab programme, prompting criticism the changes give drug users a green light.