Leading apprentice jockey Chloe Azzopardi has been suspended for six months after testing positive to a banned substance.
RWWA stewards concluded an inquiry into a report received from the ChemCentre Perth that a banned substance was detected in a sample taken from apprentice jockey Ms Chloe Azzopardi, following trackwork at Ascot Racecourse on 5 November 2020.
Ms Azzopardi pleaded guilty to the charges and with respect to penalty, the stewards subsequently determined to impose a suspension of six months effective as of 27 November 2020.
In assessing penalty stewards took into account all factors including:
- Ms Azzopardi’s unblemished record with respect to these matters
- The seriousness of the offence
- The banned substance detected
- Ms Azzopardi’s guilty plea and personal circumstances
- Penalty precedent for similar offences
After reserving their decision with respect to penalty, the stewards subsequently determined to impose a suspension of six months effective as of 27 November 2020, which was the date upon which the results of analysis were reported to the stewards and Ms Azzopardi, who was injured at the time, was stood down from riding pending outcome of the inquiry.
