The young jockey’s ban sparked a war of words between racing’s ruling body and the Professional Jockeys Association
![Talking Horses: Robbie Downeys cocaine ban a dark day for the BHA](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0bf9e6c338f91683df6fb9a47e7182865d53b233/84_752_2500_1500/master/2500.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=2dfe4add693dddbe15f1445d62301ca1)
A six-month cocaine ban for a young jockey provoked a war of words on Thursday between racing’s ruling body and the Professional Jockeys Association, whose chief executive made an emotionally charged statement accusing the
British Horseracing Authority of a last-ditch betrayal, which its officials vigorously denied. “This is a really dark day for the BHA,” declared Paul Struthers, moments after a panel confirmed that 23-year-old Robbie Downey would have to serve a suspension handed down by French officials, even though Downey insists he has never taken cocaine and could not follow the original proceedings, as he does not understand French.
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