Seiki Tabara, one of Japan's leading riders before retiring in 1998, pleaded guilty to drugs and weapons charges in the Tokyo District Court on Monday.

Prosecutors asked that Tabara be sentenced to two years in jail for violating stimulants control, swords, and firearms control laws. Tabara was charged with attempting to take a flight from Tokyo's Haneda Airport on October 4 while carrying stimulants, a syringe, and a hunting knife, the Mainichi Daily News reports.

After a 20-year riding career, Tabara retired in 1998 with 1,112 career victories, including some of Japan's most important races. Tabara attempted a career as a trainer but quit after it was discovered he placed transmitters in horse's ears to scare them into running faster.