AMATEUR rider Luke McGuinness will be unable to reapply for his licence until January 2026 after he was found to have tested positive for cocaine for a third time at Limerick in December.

McGuinness received a two-year ban in 2018 but that penalty was suspended after six months following a positive review of his case. However a second failed test in January 2020 saw the original ban reimposed and a six-year suspension for the second offence.

McGuinness regained his licence in December last year after he was seen to have taken a positive turn in his career. However, this third positive sample now means he will serve the initial ban, back-dated to January 21st, and also a further four-year ban for that latest positive test.

However, the Referrals Committee will allow McGuinness to make an application to have his case reviewed after the first four-year ban is completed in 2026.

Quinlan suspended

Conditional jockey Liam Quinlan had his case heard for a positive test for cocaine at Limerick in November. Quinlan had also failed to submit a doping control test as required in 2019. He was handed a one-year suspension for that and four years for the latest breach at Limerick last November.

However, the panel took heed of the personal circumstances of Quinlan and said they would be willing to review his case in nine months with a view to suspending the last four years of his the penalty.