Racing: Jockey Club aims to rule out riders' substance abuse

From next month, jockeys will be subjected to more than four times as many routine tests for banned drugs and alcohol than at present and results will be turned around more than four times as quickly, at no extra cost. The expansion and streamlining of the system is to come with the transfer of the contract for collection and analysis from a government agency, UK Sport, to a private company, Medscreen Ltd.

Testing for the human part of racing's athletic equation was introduced in 1994, since when 1,494 tests have been carried out. Under the new regime 1,000 random urine analyses a year, with results known in days rather than weeks, will be scheduled, along with 2,000 instant-result breathalyser tests. Substance abuse is not rampant among jockeys - there have been only 10 positive results in nine years - but the Jockey Club is determined, in a high-risk sport, that it should be eliminated. The pressures and temptations of the jockey's lifestyle became all too apparent last year when the five-times champion Kieren Fallon, winner of the Derby three days ago, voluntarily sought successful treatment for a drink problem.

The annual budget for such monitoring remains at £65,000. Under the old regime, tests were carried out for every substance on the IOC list, some of which - like bulk-building anabolic steroids - have no relevance to jockeys. Concentration will now be on those substances which impair judgement, like so-called recreational drugs, alcohol, amphetamines or antidepressants (some of which are not on the IOC list). Target testing, meaning that all professional riders will at some point come under scrutiny, will be introduced.

"Most people agree that it is the horse's ability which is the primary factor; consequently, racing is not comparable with non-equine, sports," racing's chief medical adviser, Dr Michael Turner, said. "Our needs have more in common with the screening of employees working in safety-sensitive jobs, like pilots or train drivers. Jockeys have charge of what is a live piece of heavy machinery. British racing already has a comprehensive anti-doping programme for horses and the expanded testing programme for riders can only help to improve levels of safety and integrity."

* Kris Kin, the Derby winner, has been given a pro-tem rating of 122 by BHB handicapper Nigel Gray, a stone better than his previous mark but 4lb inferior to previous Epsom victors High Chaparral and Galileo.