Godolphin trainer in prohibited substances inquiry

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Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni is to attend a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) disciplinary inquiry after serious irregularities were found in samples taken from horses in his care at Moulton Paddocks, Newmarket.

Following an inspection of Zarooni's stable by officials from the BHA, traces of prohibited substances were discovered in a number of the horses tested, including Certify. The BHA has advised that, as a result, the filly will not be allowed to take part in the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket next month.

Al Zarooni has admitted that he was responsible for the administration of the prohibited substances.

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "This is a dark day for Godolphin. We are all shocked by what has happened".

"His Highness Sheikh Mohammed was absolutely appalled when he was told and this is completely unacceptable to him. We will await the outcome of the BHA inquiry before taking any further internal action.

"Sheikh Mohammed has instructed me to begin an urgent review of all of our procedures and controls. That is already underway and we will take advice from the BHA in completing it."

Al Zarooni said: "I deeply regret what has happened. I have made a catastrophic error. Because the horses involved were not racing at the time, I did not realise that what I was doing was in breach of the rules of racing. I can only apologise for the damage this will cause to Godolphin and to racing generally."

No further comment will be made pending the completion of the BHA investigation and inquiry.

CLICK HERE

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Derek Thompson ‏@tommoracing 1m
Will be presenting Attheraces News at 9 in the morning! Could be interesting! Will need your reaction to the al Zarooni news!

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45 horses tested - 11 found positive.

Zarooni takes responsibility for administering the substances. 'I have made a catastrophic error.'

Official BHA statement -

As part of the 'testing in training' sampling programme conducted by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), on 9th April 2013 samples were obtained from 45 horses trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni at Moulton Paddocks Stables. This afternoon the BHA has received written advice from the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory that upon analysis 11 of these samples had present in them prohibited substances as laid out below:

Ethylestranol:
Desert Blossom
Certify
Fair Hill
Ghostflower
Orkney Island
Sweet Rose
Valley Of Queens

Stanozolol:
Artigiano
Bathrat Amal
Opinion Poll
Restraint Of Trade

Adam Brickell, Director of Integrity, Legal and Risk for the BHA, said:

"Ethylestranol and stanozolol are anabolic steroids and therefore Prohibited Substances under British Rules of Racing, at any time - either in training or racing. Mahmood Al Zarooni has been advised of the analysts' findings and has been visited by an Investigating Officer.

"A Disciplinary Panel enquiry into the analysts' findings will take place at the first available opportunity, confirmed details of which will follow when available. The horses which have produced positive tests will also not be permitted to race with immediate effect and for an extended period of time. As part of the ongoing process a decision will be made as to what period this suspension will be imposed for.

"The BHA understand the importance of this process being carried out as quickly as possible because of implications for betting markets.”

End

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Any other quotes come to mind?

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They have some "different" forms of punishment in there home country.
Who knows what could be in store for this Godolphin trainer.

A few sleepless nights no doubt.

Regards
Stewart from a very nice day in Blackpool

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Sky News Newsdesk ‏@skynewsbreak 1m
Ladbrokes have refunded £200,000 of bets on horses which tested positive for banned drugs

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Godolphin Racing ‏@godolphin 5m
His Highness #SheikhMohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Statement: bit.ly/11knxKM

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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued the following statement:

"I was appalled and angered to learn that one of our stables in Newmarket has violated Godolphin's ethical standards and the rules of British racing. I have been involved in British horse racing for 30 years and have deep respect for its traditions and rules. I built my country based on the same solid principles. There can be no excuse for any deliberate violation. Godolphin is fully cooperating with the British Horseracing Authority to get to the bottom of this matter and take any appropriate disciplinary action. I have ordered the Godolphin management to undertake an immediate review of our internal procedures and controls to ensure to prevent any reoccurrence of this type of activity in any stables of mine. We will be locking down the Moulton Paddocks stables with immediate effect, and I have instructed that I want a full round of blood samples, and dope testing done on every single horse on that premises. I can assure the racing public that no horse will run from that yard this season until I have been absolutely assured by my team that the entire yard is completely clean. I have worked hard to ensure that Godolphin deserves its reputation for integrity and sportsmanship, and I have reiterated to all Godolphin employees that I will not tolerate this type of behaviour.

[BVADMIN]

 
Mahmood Al Zarooni: Disqualified for eight years

Eight-year ban for Al Zarooni



Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford spoke of "a terrible day for British racing" after trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni was disqualified for eight years after admitting administering anabolic steroids to horses in his care.


Al Zarooni said he had made a "catastrophic error" in using the banned drugs on a number of runners in his yard, including former Qipco 1000 Guineas favourite Certify.

Al Zarooni was called before the British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel at a hastily-arranged hearing on Thursday afternoon after 11 horses returned positive samples for ethylestranol and stanozolol following a random testing at his Newmarket yard earlier this month.


Further admissions were made by Al Zarooni to the BHA this week surrounding four other horses that had not been tested.

The case, widely regarded to be the most serious doping scandal in recent British racing history, had already caused Godolphin principal Sheikh Mohammed to lock down Al Zarooni's stables, saying he was "appalled and angered" by events.

Al Zarooni, 37, was officially charged with rule breaches related to prohibited substances, duty to keep medication records and conduct prejudicial to racing.

Earlier in the day, the fifteen horses were banned from running for six months from April 9.

Crisford said: "This is a terrible situation. It's an awful situation that Godolphin has found themselves in. Mr Al Zarooni acted with awful recklessness and caused tremendous damage, not only to Godolphin and British racing.

"I think it will take a very long time for Godolphin to regain the trust of the British public. We're shocked and completely outraged by the actions he has taken."

Crisford also confirmed Al Zarooni had mentioned the names of three other people - two foremen and a veterinary assistant - who were "involved".

However, he said the assistant had not broken any rules because he was unaware what substance he was administering.

Crisford said Al Zarooni had previously administered steroids in Dubai, where it is not prohibited.

Referring to the contravention of British rules, he said: "This is an isolated incident at the hands of a reckless person who has shown no respect for horse racing in this country."

Asked about Sheikh Mohammed's views on the incident in Britain, Crisford said: "He will want, first and foremost, to see this put behind us. He will want to make sure this mistake never happens again."

Al Zarooni issued a statement that read: "I would like to apologise to Sheikh Mohammed, as well as to all those involved with Godolphin and the public who follow British racing.

"I accept that it was my responsibility to be aware of the rules regarding the use of prohibited substances in Britain. I can only apologise and repeat what I said in my statement earlier in the week, I have made a catastrophic error."

BHA chief executive Paul Bittar said he believed the punishment would reassure the public and the racing industry that the use of performance-enhancing drugs would not be tolerated.

In a statement, he said: "The relevant rules in this case are explicit in that the use of anabolic steroids in horses in the care of a licensed trainer is prohibited and that strict liability for everything administered to horses while they are in training lies with the trainer.

"We believe that the eight-year disqualification issued to Mahmood Al Zarooni by the disciplinary panel, together with the six-month racing restriction placed on the horses in question by the BHA, will serve to reassure the public, and the sport's participants, that use of performance-enhancing substances in British racing will not be tolerated and that the sport has in place a robust and effective anti-doping and medication control programme."

Bittar added: "This rapid resolution would also not have been possible without the full cooperation of Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed. The relevant rules in this case are explicit in that the use of anabolic steroids in horses in the care of a licensed trainer is prohibited and that strict liability for everything administered to horses while they are in training lies with the trainer."

The BHA's investigation established that the substances in question were administered on the instruction of Al Zarooni.

He said the full details of how the substances were administered would be published later.

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Not good news for racing, but in saying that these things do happen from time to time in most sports sadly these days!

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Graham Cunningham ‏@gcunning12 1m
Zarooni yard in lockdown yet Steeler still quoted in many Gns and Derby lists. Anyone clarify whether there has been a convenient switch