When will Frankie return?

A trademark Frankie Dettori leap from the saddle after a big-race victory – when will we see that again? Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Frankie Dettori’s return to action has been delayed following the possibility that he may have failed a recent drugs test.

The jockey was banned for six months last year after testing positive for cocaine in France last September.

The six months expired on Monday and he had hoped to be riding at Leicester that day.

However, in order to get his licence back, the jockey has undergone a whole series of recent tests for France Galop, the French racing regulator.

Frankie says he has been tested 15 times in the last two months.

As with athletes, the samples are split into A and B samples, with the A sample tested first. If that proves positive, the B sample is tested to make sure – that is apparently the situation now.

Dettori’s solicitor is pressing the British Horseracing Authority to grant him his licence now, but they will not do so until France Galop clears him to ride or explains why there is a delay, which the French are not currently prepared to do.

It is understood that the results from the B sample will be known in a week to ten days.

Frankie had hoped to secure a ride in the Investec Derby a week on Saturday, but that now seems highly improbable.

Will he be back for Royal Ascot? It’s a question that as yet nobody knows the answer to.