Trailblazing jockey blames sex with drug using ex-partner for positive cocaine test

A trailblazing jockey has been suspended for six months over a positive cocaine test she blamed on contamination from her drug-using ex-partner.

Sibylle Vogt, who is Swiss born but is based in Germany where she works for Arc-winning trainer Peter Schiergen, is one of Europe’s leading female jockeys. She became the first woman to ride a Classic winner when capturing the German 1,000 Guineas on Novemba in 2021 and was due to take part in this month’s Shergar Cup at Ascot until having to pull out after failing a drugs test.

At the time she took time out she had ridden 17 winners in Germany which put her third position in the German Flat jockeys’ championship.

Vogt was riding at a meeting in Compiegne, France when she gave a sample which tested positive for cocaine, which was confirmed when a B sample was examined.

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The shocked jockey made a statement which said: "The news has completely shocked me. I can't, for the life of me, explain how this outcome could have come about. Throughout my entire career—and beyond—I have never had contact with drugs or other illegal substances.”

She repeated the assertions when the case came before France Galop’s disciplinary panel, with her lawyer telling the panel she had no reason to take a prohibited substance and was well aware of the rules.

Vogt’s counsel told the panel that her partner at the time had admitted using cocaine, which she was “unaware of”, and they had “sexual relations in the days preceding the sample, particularly the day before”.

The hearing report said the jockey “does not dispute being particularly at fault having lacked prudence by maintaining relations with a person using prohibited substances”.

She said the relationship was over and that she would be “extremely vigilant” in future. The panel imposed a six month suspension which will end in November and ordered she undergo further drug testing.

The report concludes: "The analysis of the biological sample revealed the presence of a substance classified as a narcotic and its metabolites.

“This is not disputed and explained by the jockey as a result of considerations of her private life, with Sybille Vogt providing relevant evidence and admitting her fault.”