Hollie Doyle fails drugs test and gets one-month suspended ban as she breaks silence over five-month ordeal

RACING golden girl Hollie Doyle has been hit with a one-month suspended ban after failing a drugs test.

Doyle tested positive for traces of Dihydrocodeine, a painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain.

The one-month ban is suspended for one year, meaning she can continue riding provided she doesn’t return another positive sample.

In a statement, Doyle said: “In April, when returning to ride after my elbow injury, Dr Jerry Hill informed me I had tested positive for traces of Dihydrocodeine, a painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain.

“I required elbow surgery in February and was prescribed Dihydrocodeine, which I stopped consuming a few days after my operation as it made me unwell.

“In April I tested positive on my return to ride, and I stated that I had only been taking Ibuprofen and paracetamol throughout recovery to control some swelling.

“After some research we found that the contamination came from a packet of ibuprofen which I had purchased riding overseas, that unknowingly contained small amounts of Dihydrocodeine.

“The BHA also accept that the breach was innocent and unintended, but due to it being a strict liability case they found it appropriate to impose a one month suspended suspension.”

Doyle underwent surgery in February following an elbow injury sustained in a fall at Wolverhampton.

Doyle had purchased what she believed to be ibuprofen previously ‘over the counter’ in Japan, which is where the contamination is believed to have come from.

Presenting their findings, the BHA Disciplinary Panel said: “I accept that the evidence shows that Ms Doyle was not aware that the Pabron Ace Pro product contained DHC and that she did attempt to consider the ingredients using Google Lens.

“She has been consistent in her evidence throughout from the chain of custody form onwards that she had been using ibuprofen and this assertion, I accept, was based on her understanding from her attempts to translate the Japanese packaging.

“There is no evidence to suggest that Ms Doyle’s suitability to hold a licence is affected and therefore withdrawal would serve no purpose.”

Doyle has won a trio of Group 1 races this year, landing the King’s Stand on Bradsell, the Falmouth on Nashwa and most recently, the Prix du Cadran on Trueshan.

She became the first female jockey to win a French Classic when Nashwa won the 2022 Prix de Diane on Nashwa.

She’s the retained rider of Derby-winning owner Imad Al Sagar and is also stable jockey for Archie Watson.

Last season, she finished joint-second in the Flat jockeys’ championship, the highest placing for a woman.

Doyle is married to fellow jockey Tom Marquand, who has made a name for himself both in Britain and in Australia.