The racing world has been rocked by one of the biggest doping scandals for decades after it was revealed that Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni is to face a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel hearing after “serious irregularities” were found in samples taken from horses in his care in Newmarket.
The BHA announced dropped the bombshell yesterday that 11 horses in his care who run in the famous Godolphin blue colours of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed have tested positive for steroids.
All the horses are now ineligible to run, and it means that leading 1000 Guineas contender Certify will now miss the race.
The BHA said that on April 9 this year samples were obtained from 45 horses trained by Al Zarooni at Moulton Paddocks Stables and that yesterday afternoon it had received written advice from the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory that upon analysis 11 of the samples had present in them prohibited substances, namely ethylestranol and stanozolol.
Certify, unbeaten in four career outings and winner of the Shadwell Stud Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket in September, was one of the seven horses whose sample tested positive for ethylestranol. Gold Cup runner-up Opinion Poll was one of four who 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 inquiry into the analysts’ findings will take place at the first available opportunity, confirmed details of which will follow when available.”
The response from Godolphin was swift, with Sheikh Mohammed saying he was ” absolutely appalled” by what has happened.
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 under way and we will take advice from the BHA in completing it.”
Al Zarooni, who won the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster last year with Encke, told the Godolphin website he had made a “catastrophic error”.
He 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.”
Having admitted administering prohibited substances to his horses he is now facing a possibly lifetime ban from the sport.
Godolphin will hopefully be able to recover from the shame brought on them by his actions, and have said they will make no further comment until the outcome of the inquiry is known.
The BHA must now ensure that they do not shirk the issue because of the the high profile organisation involved, as racing needs to show it is clean and that any use of drugs will not be tolerated.