KILDARE BORN jockey David Walsh faces a disciplinary hearing after the Jockey Club yesterday confirmed that he tested positive in a random drugs test. The 22 year old was at the centre of intense speculation that a jockey had failed a test earlier this year.

Yesterday afternoon the Jockey Club issued a statement confirming that a test on Walsh proved positive and was confirmed in counter analysis. It states that: "On February 27th at Huntingdon racecourse, David Walsh was selected for random drug testing. This sample proved positive for amphetamines in breach of Rule 66 vii-viii.

"The B sample confirmatory analysis was carried out on Friday April 4th... The B sample confirmed the presence of amphetamines."

Walsh attended a hearing of the medical control committee yesterday, at which he was legally represented. The committee, whose members include Dr Michael Turner, the Jockey Club's chief medical officer, were satisfied that sufficient evidence existed to warrant referral to the disciplinary committee for an inquiry. No date has been set for the hearing.

Earlier, Walsh's agent Chris Broad vowed to stand by the talented young jockey. He said: "He denies ever taking drugs and I am 101 per cent behind him."

Walsh is in his second season in Britain. At the start of last term he joined Nigel Twiston Davies, who gave him his first big winner when Grange Brake took the Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow in December, 1995.

He is currently clear leader in the race for the conditional jockeys' title with 28 winners, having lost his right to claim last November.

He has formed a successful partnership with champion trainer Martin Pipe, who has supplied him with 14 victories this season. And he has also teamed up with David Nicholson, whose Barton Bank he rode into second place in last month's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup before winning the Martell Cup Chase at Aintree a fortnight ago.