Hollie Doyle given suspended one-month ban after testing positive for banned substance
Doyle also said she had been taking what she believed to be ibuprofen tablets previously ‘over the counter’ in Japan and had used those as pain relief
A disciplinary Panel found that Hollie Doyle's breach was unintentional. Photo: PA
Group One-winning jockey Hollie Doyle has been handed a one-month ban - suspended for one year - after testing positive for the banned substance Dihdyrocodeine (DHC), a painkiller, in April.
A disciplinary panel outlined that the breach was "unintended" and was a "one-off error" resulting from Doyle taking over-the-counter painkillers to treat an elbow injury resulting from a fall in January.
The 26-year-old, who became the first female jockey to win a French Classic in 2022, says she stopped consuming the painkiller days after it was prescribed due to felling unwell and instead switched to ibuprofen and paracetamol.
Upon interview, Doyle also said she had been taking what she believed to be ibuprofen tablets previously ‘over the counter’ in Japan and had used those as pain relief. These tablets are marketed as ‘Pabron Ace Pro’.
Following an investigation by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), it was thought the likely source of DHC was therapeutic consumption of Pabron Ace Pro and Doyle had attempted to check the ingredients using Google Lens.
Sarah Crowther, chair of the BHA’s independent disciplinary panel, said: “I agree with the BHA that in light of the investigative findings, it is appropriate to reduce the penalty from the entry point of two months’ withdrawal of licence to one-month suspension."
Doyle is free to continue riding but the sanction will be imposed if she fails another test in the next 12 months and the English rider is happy that this case is now behind her.
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"In April, when returning to ride after my elbow injury, Dr Jerry Hill informed me that I had tested positive for traces of Dihydrocodeine, which is a painkiller used to treat severe pain," Doyle said in a statement.
"I required elbow surgery in February and was prescribed Dihydrocodeine, which I stopped consuming a few days after my operation as it made me feel unwell.
"In April I tested positive on my return to ride, and I stated that I had only been taking ibuprofen and paracetamol throughout my recovery to control some swelling.
"After some research we found that contamination came from a packet of ibuprofen, which I had purchased when riding overseas and unknowingly contained small amounts of Dihydrocodeine.
"The BHA accepts that this was the likely source of the positive. The BHA also accepts that the breach was innocent and unintended, but due to it being a strict liability case they found it appropriate to impose a one-month suspended suspension.
"I'm extremely grateful to my family, friends and employers for the support and advice over the last five months. We're all very glad it's over."
