Sam Lee will be unable to trip for the foreseeable future after a BHA enquiry concluded
Sam Lee within the saddle (Picture: Rex)
A jockey banned for giving a optimistic cocaine check admitted he had ‘been a plonker’ earlier than a six-month ban was handed down. However thriller surrounds precisely how Sam Lee, 27, took the drug after he was caught with it in his system. A British Horseracing Authority disciplinary listening to was informed the newbie rider offered a video to help his account of how he ingested the Class A substance.
Additional particulars weren’t offered through the case, during which Lee represented himself on digital camera, whereas taking a break from work in New Zealand. The pattern was taken at Warwick Racecourse in Might the place the rider completed second in a novices’ chase at Warwick.
Enquiry chairman James O’Mahony, stated: “It (the cocaine) got here into his possession inadvertently, in a way, with some banknotes, however he did know what it was, or he had a good suggestion what it was, and he ingested it, took it intentionally. So it isn’t unintended in that sense however he did not procure it intentionally.”
Lee, an newbie rider at UK racecourses since 2015, was on a run of winners in point-to-points when he gave the studying which led to disciplinary proceedings.
His largest winner beneath Guidelines got here in 2019 when he drove Golan Fortune to victory in a Listed hurdle at Cheltenham towards the professionals.
However Lee, a part-time dairy farmer, should now get his profession again on monitor when he’s allowed to reapply for his licence in November.
Sam Lee pictured aboard Cheltenham winner Golan Fortune in 2019 (Picture: Getty)
BHA consultant Charlotte Davison informed panel members: “He stated: ‘I knew full nicely what I used to be doing,’ and described himself as being ‘a little bit of a plonker’ for doing what he did.”
Lee, who plans to return to Britain in September, has been suspended since Might 22. In a short abstract he outlined how his profession was going nicely earlier than he “made a mistake.”
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“I cant specific to you the way deeply it has affected me,” he added. “On the time, I used to be doing super. I believe, of my final 5 rides, 4 of them had been winners.
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“In methods, it has given me a kick up the arse. I am actually having to work on psychological and bodily well being – and that has been good.”
Lee admitted a breach of racing’s Rule (Ok)49 and the six-month ban was backdated to Might 22 2025.
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