The solicitor representing suspended Marco Ghiani has said the jockey prospect is "hugely embarrassed" following his failed drugs test.
Ghiani, 23, has had his racing licence withdrawn for six months—backdated to September 5—after he tested positive for cocaine following a urine sample at Newcastle on August 25. The suspension means the Italian will be free to return to racing in early March.
Rory Mac Neice, a former National Hunt jockey and Ghiani's legal representative, told a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) disciplinary panel: "Mr Ghiani is hugely embarrassed by these events. He has apologised unreservedly and he does so again today. Not just to you, the BHA, but to all of those who have supported him.
"Most fundamentally, Mr Ghiani apologises to his fellow jockeys. He feels that they would be entirely justified in feeling that he had let them down by his use of cocaine. He will work hard to regain their trust and he hopes he will be given the chance to make amends for that error of judgment."
Expectations are high for Ghiani after he was crowned champion apprentice in 2021. He rode 101 winners last year in total and has found success riding for prominent trainers like Saeed bin Suroor, Stuart Williams and Williams Knight.
Ghiani earned his maiden Royal Ascot winner in June 2021 when he piloted Real World to glory in the Royal Hunt Cup. However, his surge will be at least temporarily stalled by this setback.
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PA)Philip Curl, who chaired the disciplinary panel, told Ghiani: "The seriousness of this offence lies in placing in potential jeopardy the health and safety of all jockeys and horses with whom you participated so soon after taking cocaine."
Mac Niece went on to say his client had recognised his "very grave error of judgement," which he suggested came as a result of the pressures involved with his job. He went on to say Ghiani would seek aid through counselling offered by the Professional Jockeys Association, having previously felt "unable to ask" for help.
Ghiani was named champion apprentice 32 years after compatriot Frankie Dettori scooped up the prize himself (1989). Dettori also served a six-month drug ban after he tested positive for cocaine in December 2012.
