Uh oh.
I’m cutting and pasting this for others as it took some digging to find the right story on The Racing Post - assume you mean this one.
Thanks for bringing this up. Must be the end of the line for Al Zarooni.
Mahmood Al Zarooni: “I have made a catastrophic error”
Shock as Al Zarooni stars test positive for steriods
BY TONY SMURTHWAITE 6:33PM 22 APR 2013
GODOLPHIN trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni faces the loss of his licence after admitting being in breach of the rules of racing following the discovery of anabolic steroids in samples taken from a number of his horses including top-class filly Certify.
The unbeaten Group 1 winner will not now be allowed to run in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5 for which she was a 7-1 fourth favourite.
“This is a dark day for Godolphin,” said racing manager Simon Crisford.
Following an inspection of Al Zarooni’s stables at Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket by officials from the BHA, traces of prohibited substances were discovered in a number of the horses tested, including Certify, who was removed for the 1,000 Guineas betting.
Al Zarooni, winner of the world’s richest race thanks to Monterosso’s 2012 Dubai World Cup victory, has admitted that he was responsible for the administration of the prohibited substances.
Crisford said: “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.”
Godolphin said it would 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,” added Crisford. “That is already underway and we will take advice from the BHA in completing it.”
In a statement, 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.”
A BHA statement revealed that a total of 11 horses including Certify have been suspended from running as the result of a ‘testing in training’ sampling programme conducted. A total of 45 horses were tested on April 9 during a random visit that the BHA said arose from two positive tests on Al Zarooni horses in the previous 12 months.
It was only on Monday that the BHA received written advice from the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory that, upon analysis, 11 samples had present in them one of two prohibited substances, ethylestranol and stanozolol.
Desert Blossom, Certify, Fair Hill, Ghostflower, Orkney Island, Sweet Rose and Valley Of Queens tested positive for ethylestranol and Artigiano, Bathrat Amal, Opinion Poll and Restraint Of Trade tested positive for stanozolol.
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.”
Ladbrokes shortened Hot Snap in both the Guineas (3-1 from 4) and Oaks (8-1 from 10) markets. They also cut Just The Judge and What A Name (both 5-1 from 6) and Maureen (10-1 from 12) for the Guineas. BetVictor will refund all bets on Certify in the 1,000 Guineas ante-post market.
Trainer Howard Johnson received a one-year ban for administering anabolic steroids to horses in training, an action that the BHA disciplinary panel concluded “seriously prejudiced the integrity and good reputation of horseracing in Great Britain”.
Al Zarooni’s career with Godolphin has been a significant success, bringing wins in the 1,000 Guineas, Irish Oaks, St Leger and at Royal Ascot in addition to Monterosso’s World Cup triumph.
He was approached by Sheikh Mohammed having impressed as assistant to UAE champion Ali Rashid Al Raihe and subsequently to Mubarak bin Shafya, having first worked among Arab horses with Rod Simpon.
Is it that he regrets it happening or he regrets getting caught? Look at all the horses who are given drugs, steroids and pain killers, and are then run when the trainers (and owners) think the drugs are no longer detectable in their systems. Makes you wonder if any racehorses are run without drugs. And shows why there are so many deaths of race horses in training and in races.
No way he didn’t know it was illegal. I think he regrets getting caught.
Think he’ll be ruled off or (because of the connection) just get a handslap?
Independent article;
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/you-dope-racing-faces-its-greatest-crisis-over-godolphin-steroid-scandal-8585096.html
BHA Twitter;
@BHAPressOfficeFull details of the charges being brought against Mahmood Al Zarooni and the date for the hearing will be published tomorrow morning.
AFP - Leading bookmaker Ladbrokes said on Tuesday it had refunded bets on some of the horses which tested positive for banned steroids. Ladbrokes said it had refunded £200,000 ($305,000, 235,000 euros) of ante post stakes on horses in the care of Classic-winning Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni following what it called “exceptional circumstances”.
The horses concerned were the unbeaten filly Certify, Desert Blossom, Artigiano and Restraint of Trade.
“Certify was one of the most popular ante post horses of the season. She was the big race favourite all winter but given the circumstances we feel it’s only fair customers get their money back,” said Ladbrokes spokesman Alex Donohue.
William Hill also followed suit while Paddy Power said that they would refund at the very least those punters who had backed Certify for the 1000 Guineas, the first fillies classic of the season which is run at Newmarket at the end of next week.
Kate Miller, head of William Hill’s PR team, tweeted: “Godolphin horses William Hill will refund ALL AP bets on; 1000 Guineas, Certify & Desert Blossom. 2000 Guineas; Artigiano/Restraint Of Trade.”
Al Zarooni’s only intended runner on Tuesday, Press Room, was taken out of a race at Yarmouth. The horse was reported to be coughing.
Godolphin, the brainchild of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, said on Monday the doping scandal was a dark day for the team and it was carrying out an urgent review.
Al Zarooni - who faces a lengthy suspension from the sport - said he had made a “catastrophic error”.
Godolphin was founded in 1992 and has recorded over 2,000 wins - including 200 Group One victories - in 14 countries.
[QUOTE=tidy wabbit;6954584]
Is it that he regrets it happening or he regrets getting caught? Look at all the horses who are given drugs, steroids and pain killers, and are then run when the trainers (and owners) think the drugs are no longer detectable in their systems. Makes you wonder if any racehorses are run without drugs. And shows why there are so many deaths of race horses in training and in races.[/QUOTE]
You have to remember, with the numbers, there will be deaths. Any given morning at a good track you’ll have between 800-1000 horses training (a friend stood at the gap one morning and attempted to count them) and as many as 2000 stabled on the grounds, not to mention the haul-in horses. That’s a lot higher probability to see someone go wrong than your typical 300 horse show venue.
Of course with any high stakes game, there is crookedness to be found.
The point I’m trying to make here is: there are a LOT more of the good guys out there that do not run their horses with drugs in their system. Save Lasix of course for most, a whole 'nother can of worms entirely, that we give because we feel that it protects them. Anyways the majority of the bread and butter trainers do not mess with dangerous and illegal substances and keep within all legal boundaries if and when they do medicate.
Oh Wow!! Sheik Mohammad himself was suspended by the FEI a few years back, for riding a doped endurance horse.
I don’t think his current race trainer will get any breaks.
I bet Mr.Mohammad is livid… Interesting,there is nothing in the Bloodhorse about this yet…
[QUOTE=Equibrit;6954092]
http://www.racingpost.com/news/live.sd?event_id=1054047[/QUOTE]
A couple of points…
Godolphin aren’t in trouble, but al Zarooni is in deep sh!t. He will likely receive a very lengthy ban. Godolphin’s other in-house trainer, Saeed Bin Suroor, who keeps his horses in a separate yard, has had no horses turn up positive.
These horses were tested outside of racing, indeed Certify hasn’t run since last Sept. In other words BHA officials show up at your yard unannounced, and pick horses at random and take blood samples. They can do this anytime, even in the off-season.
Godolphin’s REPUTATION is very much in trouble. Especially since al Zarooni had replaced Bin Suroor, as Godolphin’s “main” man.
Since that change, Godolphin’s horses have been running better. Now, perhaps we know why…
He definitely won’t get a handslap despite his connections, more like his head cut off because of his connections! Tongue in cheek obviously but this a HUGE embarrassment to Sheikh Mo, make no mistake, heads will roll…
On the carpet tomorrow afternoon;
http://www.britishhorseracing.presscentre.com/Press-Releases/Notice-of-a-Forthcoming-Disciplinary-Panel-Hearing-Mahmood-Al-Zarooni-3b7.aspx
Looks like he will not only have the book thrown at him, but it will be frimly rammed down his throat.
Perhaps no heads will roll, but back to camel races. And not said as a slur, because they do have them in the Middle East, but in reference to what should happen to someone who does that to such an impressive contingent of racehorses.
Seems like they’ll be closing their entire stable at Newmarket (where Al Zarooni operated from). I wonder if the horses will simply be moved to another track, or be completely retired/sold because of the scandal. What a shame regardless.
[QUOTE=Real Rush;6956458]
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/horse-racing-dubai-ruler-close-stable-steroid-scandal-153334401--rah.html
Seems like they’ll be closing their entire stable at Newmarket (where Al Zarooni operated from). I wonder if the horses will simply be moved to another track, or be completely retired/sold because of the scandal. What a shame regardless.[/QUOTE]
I don’t think they’re leaving Newmarket, just not bringing horses in/letting them leave until everyone is testing clean.
Wow. Catastrophic mistake is right!
Interesting look back at 2009;
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?219061-FEI-bans-Sheik-Mo
[QUOTE=Real Rush;6956458]
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/horse-racing-dubai-ruler-close-stable-steroid-scandal-153334401--rah.html
Seems like they’ll be closing their entire stable at Newmarket (where Al Zarooni operated from). I wonder if the horses will simply be moved to another track, or be completely retired/sold because of the scandal. What a shame regardless.[/QUOTE]
Unlike the states all horse in England, Ireland and most of France are trained out of “yards” farms using shared or private “gallops”. They do not stable or train at the race tracks as we do here.
The judicial system across the pond is IMO is fair but very different then ours. Trainers do not have the same appeals systems we have here. Rules are rules and are not subject to a judicial interpretation. He will most likely get what will amount to a life time band.
Up until recently steroids aka Equipoise was perfectly legal and was given on a daily bases for many, many years. Google steroids and you will be amazed at the amount of websites there are. The most popular are equine for human use.
The horses that tested positive will not be allowed to race for a period of time. One of which is a favorite for the English Oaks and Guineas.
Up until recently steroids aka Equipoise was perfectly legal and was given on a daily bases for many, many years.
The rules in the UK and Ireland is that horses run on hay and oats. Steroids have never been legal. They should not even be in a cupboard on the yard
25 Apr 2013 16:50
BHA statement regarding suspension of 15 Godolphin horses in the care of Mahmood Al Zarooni
Jamie Stier, Director of Raceday Operations and Regulation for the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), said:
"The BHA has today informed Godolphin, the owners of the horses in question, that the 15 horses known to have been administered with either Ethylestranol or Stanozolol have been suspended from running in races for a period of six months, with effect from Tuesday 9th April 2013.
"The length of suspension reflects the period beyond which the BHA is confident that the horses in question can have derived no performance related benefit from the administration of these prohibited substances.
The decision regarding the suspension was made by the BHA, not by the Disciplinary Panel who are hearing the enquiry. The enquiry started as scheduled at 2.30pm.
Notes to Editors:
-
This suspension has been imposed by the BHA and is separate from the Disciplinary Panel hearing involving Mahmood Al Zarooni.
-
The suspension relates to the following horses:
ARTIGIANO (USA)
BATHRAT AMAL (JPN)
CERTIFY (USA)
COMITAS
DESERT BLOSSOM (IRE)
FAIR HILL
GHOSTFLOWER (IRE)
OPINION POLL (IRE)
ORKNEY ISLAND
RESTRAINT OF TRADE (IRE)
SASHIKO
SWEET ROSE
TEARLESS
VACATIONER
VALLEY OF QUEENS (IRE)
- The suspension will end on Tuesday 8th October 2013 and the horses will be free to race again from Wednesday 9th October 2013.
For more information contact:
Robin Mounsey
British Horseracing Authority
t:02071520048
m:07584171551
e:rmounsey@britishhorseracing.com
Per the results of Thursday’s hearing: Godolphin trainer Mahmood al Zarooni was banned from horse racing for eight years by the disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority.
