New Zealand jockey James McDonald, a rising star of international racing, has returned a positive test to a diuretic drug, Hong Kong Jockey Club stewards have announced.
Stewards said in a report a random urine sample McDonald supplied from last Sunday’s Sha Tin meeting contained hydrochlorothiazide and chlorothiazide.
The substances are diuretics and are on the HKJC’s banned list.
McDonald was booked to ride in four races last Sunday but was stood down midway through his commitments after succumbing to heat.
He missed all of his midweek rides because of flu.
“Jockey McDonald has been advised of the analyst’s findings and has not requested the reserve portion of the sample to be tested by an independent laboratory,” stewards’ said.
McDonald is booked to ride at Sha Tin on Sunday but his availability hinges on the findings of another sample provided to racing officials.
A date for an inquiry into the Racing Laboratory’s findings hasn’t been decided.
