Frankie Dettori Faces Inquiry Over 'Positive Test'

Jockey Frankie Dettori is to face an inquiry after testing positive for a banned substance at Longchamp in France.

The rider will face a France Galop inquiry next week following the test in September, his lawyer Christopher Stewart-Moore has revealed.

He released a statement saying the Medical Committee of the French authority is planning a hearing.

"On behalf of Frankie Dettori I can confirm that, as a consequence of a positive test at Longchamp on September 16, 2012, he will be the subject of an inquiry by the Medical Committee of France Galop next week," the statement said.

"In compliance with, and out of respect for, the regulations of France Galop, he will not be commenting further until the France Galop procedures have been completed."

The statement did not specify what the test was for.

Dettori had four rides at Longchamp on September 16, a day of major trials for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting the following month.

The Italian partnered Marco Botti's Joshua Tree to finish third in the Qatar Prix Foy, while the John Hammond-trained Sarah Lynx trailed home last in the Prix Vermeille.

He was then beaten by just a head into second on Godolphin's Farhh in the Prix du Moulin and was third for his former employers on Willing Foe in the Prix Gladiateur.

France Galop has not commented on proceedings and in previous similar cases they have not issued a statement before the hearing.

Dettori is one of the biggest names in flat racing. Last month, he made the headlines when his 18-year association with the Godolphin stable came to an end. He plans to ride as a freelance in 2013.

The 41-year-old partnered nine English Classic winners in the royal blue silks, including their first in 1994 Oaks victor Balanchine, and a total of 110 Group or Grade One winners for the owner.

A host of Dettori's big-race winners have been trained by Godolphin handler Saeed bin Suroor, including four of those that formed the rider's 'Magnificent Seven' at Ascot in 1996, when he won all seven races in one afternoon and cost bookmakers millions of pounds in payouts.

He had recently been sharing the Godolphin rides with fellow retained jockeys Mickael Barzalona and Silvestre de Sousa before the split.