Miles facing lengthy ban

Robert Miles faces a lengthy ban when he appears at a Jockey Club hearing tomorrow after testing positive for cocaine at Salisbury in September.

A urine sample taken from the 23-year-old apprentice, who is no longer a licensed jockey, was found to contain benzoylecgonine, which is a diagnostic metabolite of cocaine and a banned substance.

Miles rode 35 winners last year including the Chester Vase on Red Lancer, but he has been out of racing since his licence was relinquished after he was sacked by Epsom trainer Terry Mills when the revelation was made public in October.

Jockeys’ Association chief executive John Blake, who will accompany Miles to the hearing at the Jockey Club’s headquarters in Shaftesbury Avenue, London, said: “His lack of public appearances are not due to disrespect to the Jockey Club or to the process, but to his great embarrassment and uncertainty.”

Miles is the fourth rider to have tested positive for the drug since the Jockey Club’s testing policy was introduced in October 1994.

Apprentice Philip Shea, despite claiming mitigating circumstances as the victim of a spiked drink, was given a six-month ban in October 2000.

Dean Gallagher, having already served a six-month ban from the French authorities, was given an 18-month suspension for a second offence – this time in Britain – in November 2002.

Francis Norton was handed a four-month ban in December 2003.

Tomorrow’s hearing is due to start at 10.30am.