KEY POINTS:
New Zealand racing's judicial inquiry into the drugs case against jockey Lisa Cropp will not continue while the matter is before the courts.
Consideration was given to resuming the inquiry after Cropp lost her latest High Court action, despite her intention to appeal.
A resumption of the racing inquiry was discussed on Thursday by legal representatives of both parties.
Yesterday it was announced it would not proceed until the Court of Appeal action was completed.
It was thought it could be up to six months before the appeal was heard but Geoff Hall, chairman of the racing committee hearing the Cropp case, said her lawyers had indicated they would give the matter urgency.
"In these circumstances it was likely that the appeal could be heard this month," Hall said.
If a decision had been made to go ahead with the judicial hearing an injunction to prevent it would have been applied for by Cropp's lawyers, Hall said.
Two different hearings into the same case was not an ideal situation, Hall said.
"Parallel hearings are not in the interests of anyone."
He said there was also the issue of costs.
"The continuation of the hearing, with its not unsubstantial costs, in these circumstances could be seen as an exercise in futility."
It is now more than two years since Cropp tested positive to the drug methamphetamine in a urine sample taken in a routine drugs test at a race meeting at Te Rapa, Hamilton, on May 7, 2005.
Cropp has continued to ride since the positive test was confirmed and has been New Zealand's leading rider for the past two seasons.
- NZPA
