Jockey Robert Havlin has been banned from racing for six months by France Galop after testing positive for a prohibited substance, according to racingpost.com.
The Scottish-born jockey, who is attached to John Gosden's powerful Newmarket stable, was tested in Paris on Oct. 30, the day he rode Cunco (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to finish seventh in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. The Gosden-trained colt was also ridden by Havlin when he became Frankel's first winner at Newbury on May 13.
A statement released by France Galop read, “The stewards of France Galop have been advised by the Medical Commission that jockey Robert Havlin's biological sample carried out on Saint-Cloud racecourse on October 30, 2016, revealed the presence of two prohibited substances classified as narcotics including morphine and three prohibited substances classified as psychotropic by article 143 of the Code des Courses au Galop.”
Havlin, whose big-race wins include partnering Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) to his first black-type victory in the G2 Arqana July S., has instructed French solicitor Florence Gaudilliere to act on his behalf and she has confirmed that the jockey will appeal the ban.
If the ban is upheld in France, Havlin would also be precluded from riding in other racing jurisdictions under an International Federation of Horseracing Authorities agreement.
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