Contreras suspended from riding in Japan

According to a ruling on the Japan Racing Association website, jockey Luis Contreras has been suspended in Japan after testing positive for the painkiller oxycodone on Feb. 6.

Contreras had been granted a short-term license to ride in Japan from Jan. 5 to Feb. 29 and had won two races there.

Contreras, a 29-year-old native of Mexico, was Woodbine’s leading rider from 2011-13 and ranked second in the Woodbine standings in 2014-15. He was voted the Sovereign Award as Canada’s outstanding jockey in 2011-12.