BHA grants Dettori licence

Frankie Dettori is free to return to the saddle after the British Horseracing Authority confirmed it has reissued his licence.

France Galop banned Dettori, 42, for six months after he tested positive for cocaine at Longchamp last September, with his suspension reciprocated by the BHA.

The Italian had last week been due to make his comeback but was thwarted in his efforts after a test carried out by France Galop produced, according to the BHA, an "irregularity". Dettori met with France Galop's medical committee on Tuesday to discuss a "private matter", the resolution of which means the rider can now return to action.

A statement from racing's rulers said: "The British Horseracing Authority has re-issued Frankie Dettori with a full professional British jockey's licence. This follows confirmation from France Galop that he has successfully fulfilled all of their criteria to be fit to ride. Dettori is now clear to return to race riding following the suspension imposed on him by France Galop at a hearing on December 5, 2012 into a failed test for a prohibited substance.

"Dettori met with the BHA Licensing Committee on May 14, who on this date stated their satisfaction that he was fit to return to race riding in Britain pending confirmation that he had fulfilled the criteria of France Galop. It is one of the criteria of his being granted a licence that Dettori may be subject to enhanced testing controls for a period of up to 60 months."

France Galop is satisfied all issues regarding Dettori have now been resolved and released a statement saying: "On May 28, 2013 Mr Lanfranco Dettori was seen by the Medical Committee at the France Galop premises. Today, the Medical Committee received the information it required. In the light of this latest evidence, it decided to lift the medical contraindication on him race riding in France."

The French regulator gave Dettori the all-clear to resume on Thursday afternoon, meaning he was too late to secure a mount in Saturday's Investec Derby at Epsom. However, he is set to head to the Downs for two rides on Friday, partnering Ed Dunlop's Beatrice Aurore in the opening Princess Elizabeth Stakes before riding the Marco Botti-trained Fattsota in the Investec Wealth & Investment Handicap.

Connections of Irish runner First Cornerstone have moved swiftly to secure Dettori's services for Sunday's Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

Trainer Andrew Oliver said: "Frankie is going to ride the horse on Sunday. If we'd decided to go for the Epsom Derby, Chris Hayes would have been riding, but we had a chat about things once we'd decided to go to France and Chris was perfectly fine about it all.

"The French Derby is a race notorious for traffic problems, we thought we'd like a jockey with local knowledge and race knowledge and who better could you get than Frankie Dettori