Irish jockey banned 6 months after testing positive for traces of cocaine in herbal tea

LONDON - An Irish flat-racing jockey has been banned for six months after testing positive for traces of cocaine he says were contained in herbal tea that he bought to soothe a skin condition.

The Irish Turf Club handed Danny Grant a two-year ban on Wednesday, with 18 months suspended because of mitigating factors.

Grant tested positive for metabolites of cocaine at the Curragh on the first day of the flat season in Ireland on March 23.

His lawyers said the source of the failed test was an herbal tea product that Grant bought online because he thought drinking it would improve his skin condition.

Grant said his skin was in bad condition because of stress.

Grant's ban starts on Dec. 9.