Leading Wagga jockey Nick Heywood has been suspended for 10 months after testing positive to a banned substance.
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Racing NSW stewards suspended Heywood for 10 months after he tested positive to a prohibited substance at a Wagga meeting in July.
Heywood fronted a stewards inquiry at Murrumbidgee Turf Club last week where he pleaded guilty to the offence that a sample taken from him was found upon analysis to contain substances banned under AR136.
Heywood did not want to comment when contacted by The Daily Advertiser but explained that the positive was to a diuretic after struggling with his weight, particularly through the winter months.
The 23-year-old will not appeal.
The suspension, which commenced on August 8, can be reduced by three months if he completes a 'satisfactory period of professional counselling'.
He will also be required to provide a urine sample free from any banned substance prior to resuming.
Heywood is free to ride trackwork during the suspension and is keen to return to race riding once he serves his time.
Heywood has ridden more than 300 winners since starting out in 2014.
He won the Southern District Racing Association (SDRA) jockey's premiership in 2017-18 in his first season as a senior rider after returning from a stint with the Peter and Paul Snowden stable.
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