MYSTERY still surrounds what sanctions Darcy Ward will face for failing an alcohol test prior to Sunday’s rescheduled Latvian Speedway Grand Prix.

The Poole Pirates captain was excluded from round eight of the world championship in Daugavpils after a pre-meeting breath test by motorcycle racing’s governing body – Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) – showed he was over the permitted limit.

In a brief response to the Daily Echo today, the FIM were unable to advise on the possible penalties but did confirm that they were “still gathering documents and information” relating to the matter.

Pirates promoter Matt Ford was not in a position to confirm whether Ward would take part in Wednesday’s home meeting with Leicester and stated that the Wimborne Road club were themselves in the process of establishing the full facts.

Ford said: “Until the FIM make a statement and we speak to Darcy directly it would not be right for me or anyone else at the club to comment.

“I would ask people to wait until we have all the facts and once we have digested those there will be a statement from the club in due course.”

Ward, 22, immediately apologised for his indiscretion, citing a lack of hydration and stating that there had been mitigating circumstances involved.

The initial meeting had been scheduled for Saturday evening but rain saw the event postponed by 20 hours.

Speaking on Sunday, Ward told Eurosport: “I got some bad news yesterday when I was having dinner and a couple of drinks. I didn’t eat properly and I wasn’t hydrated unfortunately.

“It’s the worst day of my life and it will never happen again. I should have hydrated but it was only marginal and I’m having a bad time.

“Of course I will be back and I’m sorry to the sport and all the fans.”

The exclusion saw Ward’s title hopes suffer a significant dent as he slipped to seventh in the overall standings with any subsequent ban potentially casting doubt over his place in the top eight – the automatic qualification positions for next year’s series.

  • Poole’s Czech rider Vaclav Milik notched 10 points in the second round of the world under-21 championship on Ostrow, Poland on Sunday.

Series leader Piotr Pawlicki again topped the charts with a 15-point maximum, extending to seven his lead over Milik and Pole Kacper Gomolski in second spot.