Jockey STAR suspended after positive cocaine test

KEVIN SEXTON is set to face six months sidelined after the Turf Club suspended him for a positive drugs test at the Galway festival on Monday.

The former champion conditional was given a two-year ban but the last 18 months will be deferred if he does not test positive in the same period. Sexton was found to have cocaine in his system during the Galway test.

The Co Kildare native has also undertaken to be randomly sampled as required by the Turf Club Senior Medical Officer, Adrian McGoldrick.

The highly talented and popular rider will now aim to rebuild his career, yet he has had enormous support from trainers and owners since news emerged of his failed test.

Sexton won the lucrative Troytown Chase for Gordon Elliott in 2014. After a brief spell out of the stable, he resumed riding for Elliott recently, partnering a winner at Galway.