Shane B. Kelly cleared to return to the track in July

JOCKEY Shane B. Kelly will be free to ride in races from July 1st following an Appeals Body hearing this week.

Last November Kelly was given a one-year ban, with a second year deferred, after failing a drugs test at Leopardstown on August 13th.

Kelly lodged an appeal on the grounds that the suspension was unduly harsh in comparison to previous similar cases and that he had co-operated with the investigation.

The Appeals Body heard evidence from Dr Adrian McGoldrick, who said he was happy for Kelly to return to race riding after having tested the jockey at short notice on 11 occasions since his ban, all of which had proved negative.

It was decided to suspend the remainder of Kelly’s ban from July 1st, though the Appeals Panel stressed that any further offences could result in his licence being withdrawn permanently.

O’Connor relief

Leading amateur rider Mikey O’Connor also had a three-month ban suspended by the Appeals Body last Tuesday. The jockey had received the suspension for testing positive for a beta-blocker at Punchestown in November. O’Connor said he had been prescribed the drug for a medical condition and felt the punishment was too severe given the circumstances of the case. Considering O’Connor’s medical condition at the time the Appeals Body suspended the ban, provided no further doping offence is committed.

Winner disqualified

Co Down trainer Liam Lennon has lost a winner following the disqualification of Down Royal hunter chase winner Pointview Gale over a failed post-race test. The horse tested positive for the painkiller bute after the March 27th race.

Lennon accepted responsibility for the findings and believes that the horse’s feed must have been contaminated with that of another mare in the yard who was receiving bute. A fine of €1,000 was waived as the Appeals Body was satisfied that the banned substance was accidentally administered. The race has been awarded to Goldmineinthesky, trained by Carol Ross.