KEY POINTS:
The long-running drugs case involving top jockey Lisa Cropp is headed back to the High Court.
John Grant, chairman of racing's Judicial Control Authority, yesterday confirmed Cropp's lawyers had lodged an application in the High Court for a judicial review of the drug testing procedures of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.
Grant said it could be months before the High Court action was heard.
It is now approaching two years since a routine drugs test sample was taken from Cropp at a Waikato race meeting at Te Rapa on May 7, 2005. The sample tested positive to the drug methamphetamine.
The case was in the High Court last August when the eligibility of one member of the judicial authority panel, which had been hearing the case, was challenged.
Three months later the court rejected the challenge.
Cropp has continued to ride since the positive test was confirmed and has been New Zealand's leading rider for the past two seasons.
She topped the jockeys' premiership for the 2005-2006 season with 146 wins. The previous season she became the first woman to win the New Zealand jockeys' premiership when she rode 197 winners. In this season's premiership, she shares the lead with Opie Bosson with 86 wins.
Cropp was due to have her case heard by the Judicial Control Authority at Ellerslie Racecourse today. That has been adjourned pending the High Court action.
Last week the authority ruled Cropp had a case to answer involving the positive test and that the drug testing procedures were valid.
- NZPA
