Frankie Dettori was last night "considering his options" after his appeal to the Turf Club against a seven-day suspension for wearing a defective body protector on Irish Derby day was turned down.

The Italian picked up a total of 12 days suspension on Derby day, and his separate appeal yesterday against a five-day improper riding ban resulted in having that suspension reduced to three days.

But it was the contentious issue of Dettori's body protector that left the former champion jockey in deflated mood.

Dettori had removed the strap that connects the back and the front of the protector because it aggravated a continuing haemorrhoid problem. The Turf Club medical officer decided the protector was not acceptable without the strap and the Appeals and Referrals Committee agreed with that view yesterday.

Dettori, flanked by his lawyer, Andrew Coonan, emerged to say: "Obviously I am disappointed. Andrew did a great job to prove to the panel that I was not in breach of the rule, so I am disappointed that nothing has changed since the inquiry at the Curragh."

Coonan said: "In the circumstances we feel there has been no infringement of the rule and therefore the seven days is not acceptable. We will consider our options."

With racing's appeals process having run its course, those options could include taking the case to the High Court, although Coonan could not confirm that.

"Nothing is being ruled in and nothing is being ruled out. But I am fully satisfied that the rule is very clear and that there has been no breach of it," Coonan added.

Dettori will start his 10 days on the sidelines tomorrow and his ban will last until July 17th. He will be able to race on the 16th, however, as there is no racing in Ireland on that day. But he will miss Thursday's July Cup and Sunday's Irish Oaks.

Dettori had his deposit on the back protector case forfeited, and although his ban was reduced in the earlier case, he was still found guilty of improper riding.