26 Jan 2013

Jockey, three footballers banned after corruption probe

6:52 am on 26 January 2013

The jockey Andrew Heffernan was disqualified from riding for 15 years and three English footballers were excluded from being involved in horse racing, following a British Horseracing Authority corruption inquiry.

Heffernan was found guilty of conspiring with others to commit a corrupt and fraudulent practice, receiving a bribe and intentionally failing to ensure a horse ran on its merits.

The allegations centred on three horses ridden by Heffernan being laid to lose on betting exchanges in races that took place between November 1 in 2010 and March 31, 2011.

Ipswich Town striker Michael Chopra and former Manchester United and Doncaster Rovers midfielder Mark Wilson were banned for 10 years for breaching racing's rules.

The pair were found to have offered a bribe and committed corrupt and fraudulent practices.

Doncaster midfielder James Coppinger was also found guilty of corrupt and fraudulent practices and disqualified for three years.

Five others individuals also received bans.