Report: Oisin Murphy gives up jockey license for rehab

European jockey Oisin Murphy has temporarily turned in his racing license in order to focus on rehab after several drug and alcohol-related incidents according to a report from the Guardian.

The story notes that Murphy admitted to breaking both alcohol and COVID rules in recent months, and was facing disciplinary charges. He previously served a suspension in 2020 after testing positive for a metabolite of cocaine, which was reduced after he successfully argued that the test was the result of a sex partner who had used the drug.

The jockey was taken off his mounts at Newmarket in October after failing a breathalyzer test. He had previously missed a day due to alcohol use in 2019.

According to the Guardian, Murphy also failed a urine test at Chester in May. With three alcohol strikes within 36 months, he faced a suspension of between 60 and 180 days.

Murphy earned the 2021 British jockey championship, and won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November aboard Marche Lorraine.