Shambles as banned jockey who missed out on £20,000 bonus actually did nothing wrong

1 year ago 104

A TOP jockey who missed out on a potential £20,000 bonus was needlessly banned after bosses admitted he had not committed any offence.

Sean Levey was leading last year’s Racing League jockey standings when he was stood down at Sandown prior to the final meeting.

Levey was cleared of wrongdoing almost a year after he was stood down from racing for eight days after a ‘non-negative’ saliva test[/caption]

Saffie Osborne ended up pinching top spot and the bumper £20,000 bonus after a ‘miracle’ 6500-1 treble on the final night at Newcastle.

Frustrated Group 1-winning rider Levey could only watch from the sidelines as he protested his innocence.

A urine test was taken within 24 hours of his ‘non-negative’ saliva test – for which he was banned eight days.

However, the BHA said on Monday that they now ‘completely accepted’ Levey had not taken any banned substance.

A statement read: “The pilot was paused following a negative laboratory follow-up analysis requested after a point of care racecourse non-negative sample given by Sean Levey at Sandown on September 14, 2022.

“Following that negative laboratory follow-up analysis, the BHA has carried out extensive analysis to ascertain the circumstances behind the original non-negative, remaining in close communication with Mr Levey throughout.

“The BHA is grateful for his co-operation during this time.

“The BHA completely accepts that Mr Levey did not take amphetamine or any other prohibited substance and has not committed any offence under the rules of racing, with the cause of the non-negative appearing to have been a supplement that those administering the test were not aware of at the time.

“A further update regarding the resumption of the oral fluid testing pilot will follow in due course.”

Levey, who has won more than £700,000 from his rides in Britain so far this season, said after the whole debacle: “I’m glad it’s over.”