Godolphin

[Zam_Olyas]

Godolphin have 11 horses banned after testing positive for steroids

British racing faces the most the most serious doping scandal in its history following the disclosure on Monday evening that 11 horses trained by Mahmoud al-Zarooni, one of the powerful Godolphin operation's two principal trainers, have tested positive for anabolic steroids. All 11, including Certify, a leading contender for the 1,000 Guineas on Sunday week, have been banned for racing for "an extended period of time".

The news that one of the most high-profile trainers in European racing has been administering anabolic steroids to his horses first appeared in a statement on Godolphin's website, and was confirmed shortly afterwards by an official notification from the British Horseracing Authority, that Zarooni will face a disciplinary hearing at a date to be confirmed.

Zarooni, who joined Godolphin in March 2010 and won the St Leger, one of Britain's five classics, in his first season, admitted in the statement on http://www.godolphin.com that he had made "a catastrophic error", and that "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."

Zarooni also expressed his "deep regret" for what had occurred, adding that he could "only apologise for the damage this will cause to Godolphin and to racing generally". Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager, said on Monday that it had been "a dark day for Godolphin, and we are all shocked by what has happened".

He added: "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."

In all, BHA investigators obtained samples from 45 horses at Zarooni's stable at Moulton Paddocks, just outside Newmarket. Seven, including Certify, tested positive for ethylestrenol, while four more, including Opinion Poll, the runner-up in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last June, were positive for stanozolol.

Anabolic steroids are the most serious of all potentially performance-enhancing drugs that can be administered to horses, and their use is subject to a blanket ban in racing yards, whether or not a horse is due to contest a race in the near future.

Adam Brickell, the director of integrity, legal and risk for the BHA, said that a disciplinary panel will be convened to consider the case "at the first available opportunity".

He added: "Ethylestrenol 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.

"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 understands the importance of this process being carried out as quickly as possible because of implications for betting markets." Zarooni faces an extended, worldwide ban from racing if he is found to be in breach of the anti-doping rules, and the near-certainty that he will lose his position with Godolphin.

More at Guardian

 

[Catwhoorg]

They ate dodgy steak ?


Horse racing is in for its own serious dope crisis soon. Maybe this will be the start, maybe it will take another few busts.

 

[doperhopper]

Trained in tenerife?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

The reason i came to know about godolphin and that makes me interested in horse racing is this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksVoz1OAtU4

 

[armchairclimber]

That is quite sensational news. I wouldn't want to be in the trainer's shoes right now.

 

[weeniebeenie]

[Insert donkeys to racehorses joke here]

 

[the sceptic]

not normal

 

[Ferminal]

PED use in racing? Would NEVER have guessed.

 

[ElChingon]

not normal

That is way too funny (long sentence in lieu of LOL)

 

[blackcat]

yeah.

the horses are protesting all across europe being in beef mince

 

[Carols]

Anabolic steroids are the most serious of all potentially performance-enhancing drugs that can be administered to horses

I could name at least 6 other equine drugs that are more performance enhancing than anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroid use allows horses to retain/gain muscle and stay in the feed tub while in heavy training. But have No effect on making a horse run faster.

and their use is subject to a blanket ban in racing yards, whether or not a horse is due to contest a race in the near future.

Wow OOC testing over there!!! Not here...can train at the farm and as long as the drugs are out of the horses system by the time they arrive at the track it's pretty safe. But 80% of horses train at the track (no daily stall fee) here, not in 'yards' as is the norm elsewhere.

Total Black Eye for Godolphin, arguably the biggest race operation in the world. This guy sounds like a Loose Cannon-didn't know????? How could anyone train to race without reviewing the permitted med list? I say BS!!!

How anyone could even think about ingesting horse meat is beyond me. Non performing equines get drugs just for worming, aches/pains, to sedate for vet work, and for illnesses. I wouldn't want any of those in my body!!!

 

[Random Direction]

Where is the liege panda?

 

[Ripper]

not normal

Oh this is excellent! LMMFAO

 

[Schwartzchov]

So now apparently its not safe to eat horse meat incase someone tests positive for steroids.

 

[sublimit]

not normal

And the horse doing Sagan style tricks wins the sprint.

 

[horsinabout]

I like His highness...his horses could do the Tour de France

http://youtu.be/dSo_HBzpjm0

 

[coinneach]

The reason i came to know about godolphin and that makes me interested in horse racing is this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksVoz1OAtU4

Seeing Frankie holding up seven fingers reminded me of someone else, in some other sport, at some other time...who could that have been?

Any chance Frankie tipped the authorities off after testing positive himself in return for a shorter sentence??

 

[L'Etranger]

That indeed was a cartoon in one of the UK papers this morning -- someone saying "We began to have suspicions when one of his horses won the Tour de France".

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Seeing Frankie holding up seven fingers reminded me of someone else, in some other sport, at some other time...who could that have been?

Any chance Frankie tipped the authorities off after testing positive himself in return for a shorter sentence??

Nahh if there was tipping off it would not be frankie.this i am sure of as much as you are sure of someone being clean.

 

[Carols]

I like His highness...his horses could do the Tour de France

http://youtu.be/dSo_HBzpjm0

Hey don't you be knocking the Sheik; he is a consummate horseman and has won at the elite level in endurance events!

 

[Carols]

Quite a few jockeys have been suspended for alcohol and recreational drugs. They barf and sauna to make weight as they are usually 30lbs below normal weight for their size

 

[horsinabout]

Hey don't you be knocking the Sheik; he is a consummate horseman and has won at the elite level in endurance events!

I wasn't being facetious.....he is current World Champion at endurance riding, 100miles in one day, blisteringly fast!.

 

[wansteadimp]

Looks like it hinges on different rules in different places. The drugs in question are allowed in Australia for example but have to be out of the horses system by race time. Totally banned in the UK.

A couple of his horses tested positive last summer for a pain killer and he was told after that he was likely to get an out of comp visit to his yard.

He is either incredibly stupid and didn't check the difference between UK rules and Dubai rules or expected some sort of protection.

The lack of knowledge may be believable on his part but someone in the yard (the vet for example) should have been aware of the UK rules and known what was going on was illegal.

 

[Carols]

I wasn't being facetious.....he is current World Champion at endurance riding, 100miles in one day, blisteringly fast!.

Actually he came Second by 55 seconds, I saw it Winning time was just over 7.5 hours which includes stops for vet checks and horse feeding/watering etc.

Cyclists have a machine and drafting to go faster, horses need to carry weight and be cared for properly according to very specific rules to ensure their health.

 

[Carols]

Looks like it hinges on different rules in different places. The drugs in question are allowed in Australia for example but have to be out of the horses system by race time. Totally banned in the UK.

A couple of his horses tested positive last summer for a pain killer and he was told after that he was likely to get an out of comp visit to his yard.

He is either incredibly stupid and didn't check the difference between UK rules and Dubai rules or expected some sort of protection.

The lack of knowledge may be believable on his part but someone in the yard (the vet for example) should have been aware of the UK rules and known what was going on was illegal.

Ignorance is No Excuse. And yes the medication rules are different all over. Here in the states it can differ by each state jurisdiction. But No trainer can plead ignorance, you better know before you bring a horse to any particular state or pay the penalty.