Frankie Dettori turned to cocaine in "moment of weakness"

Frankie Dettori has admitted that he used cocaine because he was "depressed" at not being able to ride professionally.

Dettori was banned for six months in December for failing a drugs test back in September, and the jockey said that he turned to the Class A drug in a "moment of weakness".

Speaking to Channel 4 News, Dettori said: "Things were going bad, I was depressed and I guess [in] a moment of weakness and I fell for it and I've only got myself to blame. I can't blame anybody else.

"I'm very ashamed and embarrassed, and paid a very big price for it, you know. I spent six months not doing the thing that I love, racing.

"The embarrassment of when it come out, I had to hide in my house for a week. The paparazzi outside. The embarrassment of telling the children, you know. You know they still go to school, they might get bullied and so it was a very, very difficult time."

The 42-year-old Italian will return to action at Leicester on Monday evening.

Dettori's interview with Claire Balding will be broadcast on Thursday evening at 7pm on Channel 4.