Racing: Top jockey faces ruin after positive test

Dean Gallagher, the leading jump jockey who had seemingly put a history of drug abuse behind him to win the Champion Hurdle on Hors La Loi III at Cheltenham in March, confessed yesterday that he was one of two riders who have recently tested positive for cocaine. His latest misdemeanour is likely to cost him his career.

The other guilty rider, who has not been identified, will escape disciplinary action on a technicality. On the day he was tested – at home, after he had failed to provide an on-course sample on an earlier pre-arranged date – his jockey's licence had expired. This meant he was outside the legal jurisdiction of the Jockey Club at the time of his offence. It is understood that he has since renewed his licence and is back riding.

"A technicality has prevented us taking the matter forward in that case," John Maxse, the Jockey Club's spokesman, said. "We'll be looking at the situation to ensure it doesn't happen again in the future."

Gallagher's future is uncertain at best. "I wish to announce that I have tested positive for a banned substance that may signal the end of my riding career," the 34-year-old said. "I know that I will be banned from riding for a significant period and a return to riding is unlikely at this stage."

Gallagher was banned for six months in 2000 after testing positive for cocaine on three separate occasions in France. He returned to action in January last year and his comeback seemed complete with his victory at the Cheltenham Festival. But an on-course test in early September was positive for cocaine and the Jockey Club, whose chief medical advisor, Dr Michael Turner, was told about the result within days of it being confirmed, is preparing action against him.

"I must accept responsibility for my actions," Gallagher said, "although I wish to stress that during the past two years I have been drug tested on over 300 occasions and this has been the only positive test. Also, I have been tested 12 times in the past month since the positive sample, all of which have been negative." It is thought that the majority of Gallagher's drug tests have been conducted in France, where he has been routinely targeted since 2000.

News of the jockeys' positive tests first emerged via UK Sport's quarterly anti-doping report, which also revealed that a professional footballer in England has recently tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid, nandrolone.

The player has not been identified but is reportedly an Englishman at a club below Premiership level. The finding was the first time a professional footballer in England has tested positive for nandrolone, which produces rapid muscle growth and a surge in strength.

Michele Verroken, the director of UK Sport's anti-doping unit, said the player may not have been guilty of any doping offence. "We have seen many [nandrolone] findings which seem to be associated with the use of supplements," she said. "Athletes are taking supplements but they don't realise they are taking steroids. No one should be considering that the individual has done anything wrong at this stage. It's a matter for the Football Association to deal with. If they conclude there is a case to answer there will be a disciplinary hearing."

Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, said the player concerned had been under treatment at the time of his test. He added that the PFA has sent a circular to players warning them to be "very, very careful" when using dietary supplements when the contents are not absolutely known.