Albany-based apprentice Tyla Becker suspended after providing urine sample containing banned substance

Albany-based apprentice jockey Tyla Becker has been hit with a one month suspension after returning a positive drug test at Percy Spencer Racecourse. Becker moved to the Great Southern last year to ride in the 2021-22 season but she was stood down on February 9 after returning a positive urine test on January 9 in Albany. All riders at the Fitzpatrick Plate meeting on January 9 were subject to breathalyser testing and a number of selected riders were selected to provide urine samples which were tested for the presence of banned substances. Last week Racing and Wagering WA stewards announced that Becker had been hit with a one-month ban. Under the Australian Rules of Racing, Becker pleaded guilty to a charge for providing a sample at the race meeting which contained a banned substance. Stewards completed an inquiry into a report from the ChemCentre in Perth and handed the 23-year-old a one-month suspension, backdated to February 9 when she was stood down from riding. Her suspension will expire at midnight on March 8. Becker was advised at the completion of the inquiry that she will be permitted to resume riding trackwork following the provision of a sample free of any banned substances. She can then apply to ride in trials but she must serve the full suspension period prior to returning to ride in races. When determining her ban, stewards took into consideration the serious nature of the offence, Becker’s guilty plea, prior good record and personal circumstances. Working for leading Albany trainer Steve Wolfe, Becker had ridden two winners in her Great Southern stint before inuring her knee in a track work fall in November last year. Her first meeting back riding was at the Albany Racing Club on January 9. Becker began her riding career in April last year and has ridden 17 winners to date.