The rider was suspended until December 31 after testing positive for cocaine on three separate occasions in France this spring.

Louis Romanet, director-general of France-Galop, said: "Dean Gallagher has already appealed against the ban.

"We will be looking for three appeal judges and as soon as we are ready we will have Mr Gallagher over - as soon as possible, I hope in the next two weeks.

Treatment

"He has tested positive on three occasions he has been riding in France and he recognises he has a drug problem and needs treatment."

This is the first time a jockey has tested positive for cocaine since the testing procedures were implemented.

"Since testing began three years ago we have never had any cases of jockeys using hard drugs," said Romanet.

"Dominique Boeuf - a top jockey - had problems with the police over drugs but he never tested positive when he was riding.

"Gallagher's is a sad case. He needs help and he needs to be cured."

Case

John Maxse, the Jockey Club's press officer, added: "We've never had any cases of jockeys testing positive to cocaine in this country."

Gallagher will need to prove to France-Galop doctors that he has been completely cured before he is allowed to ride in the country again.

Gallagher, 31, has been riding frequently in France since being retained by leading owner Paul Green but has not ridden in Britain since July 2.

He has known the result of the failed test for some time but has been forced to wait for the France Galop disciplinary and legal processes to conclude before learning his fate.

The job with Green was a major boost for Gallagher, after his career had been overshadowed by the long-running investigation into race-fixing, which resulted in his spending 14 months on police bail. He was eventually cleared without charge.

Jumps

Gallagher rode 51 winners last jumps season and finished second to Istabraq on Green's Hors La Loi III in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

Only a few riders have failed drugs tests in Britain, the most notable being former champion conditional David Walsh, who tested positive for amphetamines.

He was also fined for the use of diuretics in April this year.