Frankie Dettori has been banned from riding in France Frankie Dettori has been handed a six month worldwide riding ban by French racing's governing body France Galop after being found guilty of taking a prohibited substance. The 41-year-old Italian-born England based rider - probably racing's most high profile personality - tested positive for a non-performance enhancing banned substance at the September 16 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe trials at Longchamp.
The ban runs from December 19 to May 19, which crucially will allow Dettori to ride in the Epsom Derby on June 1, as France Galop took into account his having agreed not to ride at all once his medical certificate had been withdrawn by the Medical Commission on November 20.
"Because Frankie Dettori said that he would not ride anywhere in the world from November 20 that has been taken into account," a France Galop spokesman told AFP.
"Thus the immediate ban is five months but it is six in counting the time since he voluntarily stepped down from riding on November 20."
Dettori, though, must return to France and undergo more medical tests before he is cleared to ride again.
"He must return to France and undergo biological tests on April 20. If they are clear then he is free to resume riding on May 19," the spokesman said.