Officials at the Jockey Club are waiting confirmation from their French counterparts of jump jockey Dean Gallagher's ban until the end of the year.
It was reported in today's Racing Post that Gallagher has been suspended by France Galop until December 31 after testing positive to cocaine.
'As yet we haven't been officially informed of the ban,' said Jockey Club press officer John Maxse.
The suspension follows a random drug test earlier this year and, under an international agreement between turf authorities, will be recognised worldwide.
Gallagher, 31, has been riding regularly in France since landing the job as retained jockey to owner Paul Green last October. The sample which revealed traces of cocaine was provided on one of his trips to Paris in late spring.
He has not ridden in Britain since July 2 and has known the result of the failed test for some time but has been forced to wait for the France Galop disciplinary and legal processes to conclude before learning his fate.
The jockey has the option to appeal against the ban. The job with Green was a major boost for Gallagher, after his career had been overshadowed by the long-running investigation into race-fixing, which resulted in his spending 14 months on police bail. He was eventually cleared without charge.
Trainer Paul Webber, a supporter of Gallagher, was told the of the ban on Saturday night.
Webber told the Racing Post: 'Dean rang me saying there would be some stuff in the papers. He didn't give me all the details and he's naturally very upset.
'I was very surprised at it because he has been a great asset to us. One can only judge people as one finds them and we've always found him a pleasure to deal with and a very, very good rider.
'Dean said he would be out until the end of the year and I'm very disappointed for him, but I'll certainly back him on his comeback and I very much suspect, and am pretty sure, my owners will too.'
Gallagher rode 51 winners last jumps season and finished second to Istabraq on Green's Hors La Loi III in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.
Only a few riders have failed drugs tests in Britain, the most notable being former champion conditional David Walsh, who tested positive for amphetamines. He was also fined for the use of diuretics in April this year.
