The New South Wales Thoroughbred Racing Board Appeals Panel has upheld a one-year suspension handed to Lane Moloney after the 23-year-old jockey tried to appeal the ruling during a hearing on Tuesday.

Moloney had appealed against two of three charges handed down in relation to an incident at Kembla Grange racecourse on October 6. Stewards had suspended Moloney after he allegedly swore at a steward and physically assauled a stipendiary steward.

The panel, chaired by former federal attorney general Tom Hughes, found Moloney guilty of physical assault. Hughes said it was a serious affront to authority, and "there cannot be any doubt that Lane Moloney is guilty.

"It is of vital importance that the authority of the stewards must be upheld by the imposition of a suitably severe penalty when the stewards' authority is flouted," Hughes said.

Moloney, who can return to riding on October 8, 2002, had been previously advised to undertake counseling for anger management.—Delamere Usher