Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori was suspended from riding worldwide for six months by French racing’s governing body France Galop yesterday for failing a doping test.

The 41-year-old Italian – 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on June 1, as France Galop took into account his having agreed not to ride at all once his medical certificate had been withdrawn by the Medical Commission on November 20.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 Nov. 20 that has been taken into account,” a France Galop spokesman said.

“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 after what France Galop termed in their decision was a ‘serious infraction of the doping rules’.

France Galop said they had demanded from their fellow global racing authorities to impose the ban as well.

Dettori’s lawyer Christopher Stewart-Moore, who represented the jockey at both the Medical Commission and the disciplinary hearing in Paris on Tuesday, issued a statement that Dettori was contrite and felt he had let the sport down.

Stewart-Moore said: “I have spoken to Frankie since the announcement was made and he has told me he fully accepts France Galop’s decision.”

Although there has been much speculation as to the substance that he tested positive for it is unlikely, unless Dettori reveals, it will ever be known as France Galop policy is never to divulge such details.