Danny Grant handed six-month ban

Irish Flat jockey Danny Grant has been suspended for six months after he failed a drugs test at the Curragh on March 23.

Grant was officially handed a two-year riding ban by the Irish Turf Club, but the last 18 months of the disqualification period was suspended under the assumption he does not fail another test.

He must also remain available for further drugs testing during the entirety of the suspension.

Grant tested positive for metabolites of cocaine at the Curragh on the first day of the Flat turf season in Ireland.

The issue was heard by a referrals committee of the Turf Club in August, but the details of the case were only made available on Wednesday.

Prior to the hearing, Grant's solicitors said the source of the failed drugs test was a herbal tea product called 'Mate De Coca', which the jockey had bought online.

The teabags were consequently sent to the Turf Club for testing and indicated the presence of cocaine.

Grant said he had bought the herbal tea to help to soothe a long-standing skin condition, which was in a "bad condition" before Christmas and "brought on by stress".

Taking into account several other mitigating factors, including the presence of metabolites not being present due to "illicit drug use", the Turf Club referrals committee showed clemency by suspending 18 months of a two-year ban.

The committee's report noted, however, that Grant had shown "recklessness" in taking the herbal tea as he had previously been banned for seven months after having failed a drugs test in October 2009.

Grant is closely attached to the stables of Pat Flynn, who told the Turf Club the jockey's skin condition was the reason for his falling number of rides as he frequently had to give up mounts at short notice.

His six-month suspension will begin on Tuesday, December 9.

Grant's solicitor Andrew Coonan ruled out an appeal and is convinced the jockey will again enjoy a fruitful career once his suspension ends next year.

"This has been a very difficult time for Danny," Coonan told Press Association Sport.

"Anyone who knows him, and knows his situation that he's found himself in over a period of time, will have enormous sympathy with his situation.

"I fully accept that the referrals committee were in a difficult position given A, the nature of the case and the finding of the substance, and B, that this is the second occasion that it (Grant having failed a drugs test) has happened.

"But, equally, I accept that the panel very much took the particular circumstances of the case into account.

"Danny is a very good rider and, more importantly, has always enjoyed great support from those within racing and from Pat Flynn, particularly.

"I firmly believe that he can put this behind him and really establish his racing career."