Sport star is banned over video featuring mystery white powder - even though she doesn't appear in a single second of the footage

A third Australian jockey has been suspended for sharing a video of a fellow rider that allegedly appeared to show the individual sniffing a white powder, which was later said to be cocaine.

Casey Waddell was handed a six-month suspension by Queensland’s Racing Integrity Commission, which is to be suspended after four months, after stewards determined that she had breached the Australian racing rules relating to conduct that was detrimental to the image of racing.

She joins fellow jockeys Amy Graham, who was suspended for four months, and Sophie Wilcock, who was banned for three months, for posting the clip, which allegedly depicts Ms Graham snorting a white powder from a saucer at her residence.

Queensland’s Racing Integrity Commission initially stood down the three horse riders in September after the video emerged online. Ms Graham told stewards that she had been ingesting the white powder, which she ‘believed was cocaine’. She later stated that the video was leaked as ‘part of a vendetta’ against her.

Ms Graham is set to appeal the suspension at a hearing with the Queensland Racing Appeals Panel next Wednesday.

During a hearing on Monday, Ms Waddell submitted that she was not guilty of breaching of Australian Rule of Racing AR 228(a), which states that a person must not engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the image, interests or integrity or welfare of racing.

The Queensland jockey also submitted that the recording was made at a private residence during a gathering on November 16, 2024.

She stated that the clip was ‘shared privately with a close friend during a moment of emotional distress’.

The jockey said she had made it clear to the individual that she shared the video with that the recording was not to be distributed elsewhere. She added that she ‘did not authorise, participate in, or have knowledge of its later dissemination to the media.’

She submitted to the stewards that her conduct was not ‘motivated by malice or recklessness’ and the circulation of the content took place without her consent.

However, a panel, which was chaired by Queensland chief steward Josh Adams, found that Ms Waddell was guilty of a breach of AR 228(a).

‘Stewards were satisfied that Ms Waddell had recorded a video on her phone depicting a licensed participant consuming an illicit substance, and that she chose to share that recording with another person who was also licensed within the industry,’ a report from the Commission read.

‘The video was later circulated publicly, identifying Ms Amy Graham as a licensee within the racing industry.

‘The act of sharing such material created a clear and foreseeable risk that it would be further shared or made public. As a licensed participant, Ms Waddell had an ongoing obligation to protect the reputation and integrity of the racing industry. Her decision to distribute that video represented a serious lapse in judgment and constituted conduct incompatible with those obligations.’

In determining her penalty, the panel acknowledged Ms Waddell’s submissions that the incident took place in a private event and that she had shown remorse for the incident. They accepted that the video was leaked without her consent.

Ms Waddell’s last race came at Aquis Park Gold Coast Poly, where she finished eighth in the $28,000 Gctc Renew Memberships Now (Bm55) aboard Coco Jewel.

Taking all factors into account, the panel reasoned that she should be suspended at a starting point of six months, but suspended her ban after four months.

Her suspension will now be backdated to commence on September 14, meaning she will be stood down until January 14.