Overview

• A British Horseracing Authority panel met on July 22 and imposed a six-month ban on the 27-year-old amateur jockey after a sample taken two days before his Warwick ride in May tested positive for cocaine.
• Panel chairman James O’Mahony accepted that Lee accidentally acquired the drug on banknotes but knowingly ingested it, calling the lapse “utterly stupid” and highlighting the safety risks to riders and horses.
• During the disciplinary hearing, Lee admitted full awareness of his actions, expressed remorse by describing himself as “a bit of a plonker,” and said the ban had been “a kick up the arse.”
• The suspension was backdated to May 22, the date of Lee’s provisional suspension, and the panel confirmed he may seek licence reinstatement in late November.
• The BHA reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on drug use in racing to protect the sport’s integrity and deter future substance misuse by participants.