DRUG testing of jockeys will rise in frequency next year and the penalties for those who test positive will be drastically more severe.

Details of the planned crackdown were being discussed within the Turf Club yesterday following Thursday’s disciplinary hearings which saw three jump jockeys given lengthy suspensions for failing drug tests.

Ger Fox, Danny Benson and Roger Quinlan – all of whom had metabolites of cocaine in their system on the same raceday in October - each received two-year bans but the Referrals Committee gave all three a chance to return to the saddle within months if certain criteria are met.

Wrapping up the hearings, the Committee of Justice Tony Hunt (in the chair), Justice Leonie Reynolds and Laurence McFerran issued a strongly-worded statement aimed at discouraging any other jockeys from dabbling in drugs.

“We can’t have another night like tonight where three jockeys tested on the same day were positive. This is unacceptable for racing.

“To date we have tried to impose punishment with an encouragement to undertake rehab. This has worked in individual cases but it is clear that the deterrent effect of the penalties imposed to date is not enough.

“We are asking Denis Egan, in his capacity as chief executive of the Turf Club, to write to all the representative bodies to say that in future the starting point for penalties will be four years plus whatever follows. There will be no coming back in six months except in very exceptional circumstances. What is currently happening cannot continue.

“There is help available for any rider who needs it and they can contact the Senior Turf Club Medical Officer, Dr. Adrian McGoldrick, in the strictest of confidence if they need help and we would encourage them to do so.”

Yesterday, Denis Egan told The Irish Field: “We will have tested around 200 jockeys this year and we will increase that number in 2018. We haven’t had any other positives this year.”

Asked if there was a serious drug problem in the weighroom, Turf Club medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick said: “No, I don’t think it’s any worse in racing than in general society. I was at Thurles races this week and the GPs there told me it’s a problem in their town, as it is in many others.”

Dr McGoldrick does not think the use of drugs by jockeys is linked to the high rate of mental health issues he has identified among jockeys. Last year it was revealed that 49% of 122 jockeys who responded to a survey said they had symptoms of depression.

“I was shocked we had three positive tests in one day but I don’t think there is widespread use of cocaine by jockeys. It’s important to point out that the jockeys who tested positive were not under the influence of the drug at the races – they just had metabolites of it in their system. In any case, we advertise a support programme in all the weighrooms for anyone with problems and I now have a sports psychologist working with me.”

Keith Rowe, Director of the Racing Academy and Centre of Education which runs courses for jockeys at all levels, believes more can be done. “There does appear to be a gap in the professional formation offered to young riders (apprentice & conditional) since professional development courses were shelved in 2014.

“The adoption of a comprehensive Jockey Pathway system to include pre-licence preparation would ensure prospective licence holders could access meaningful education around a range of topics and hopefully this can start to happen soon in racing as it does across most professional sports.

“Trainees who come through the 10-month programme at RACE receive education on drugs from invited speakers as part of their general life skills and personal development module. Amateur riders are also briefed by Dr McGoldrick as part of their licensing course but to the best of my knowledge there isn’t any specific input for aspiring professional jockeys at present.”