Former Godolphin trainer Al Zarooni appeals doping ban

LONDON (AFP) –

Godolphin trainer Mahmood al-Zarooni arrives for a disciplinary hearing at the British Horseracing Authority offices in London on April 25, 2013. Zarooni has lodged an appeal to reduce the length of his eight-year suspension for doping offences, according to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

Former Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni has lodged an appeal to reduce the length of his eight-year suspension for doping offences, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old Emirati was found to have given banned anabolic steroids to 15 horses – who have been barred from racing for six months – at his stables at British racing headquarters in Newmarket, eastern England, at a BHA hearing last month.

Godolphin told AFP that it was a matter between Al Zarooni and the BHA.

“He is no longer a Godolphin employee and the appeal is a matter between himself and the BHA. Godolphin has no involvement with this appeal,” a spokesperson said.

Al Zarooni’s surprising decision to appeal will nevertheless not be music to the ears of Godolphin’s founder, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who made it clear at the time of the revelations how ‘appalled and angry’ he was that he and Godolphin had been tainted by such a scandal.

The 63-year-old Sheikh – who was present at Newmarket last Saturday to see Godolphin’s crack Irish-trained colt Dawn Approach win the English 2000 Guineas – had ordered al Zarooni’s 200-horse stable to be locked down until further notice and was in no hurry to appoint a trainer as his replacement.

Al Zarooni, who had made a good start to his tenure as a Godolphin trainer with victory in last year’s Dubai World Cup and English St Leger, looks to have little reason for optimism given the BHA’s stern assessment of his behaviour when they released their full judgement last week.

“This was a widespread systematic misuse of illegal substances which are absolutely prohibited under the rules,” they said.

“Nearly a quarter of the 45 horses tested at the stables had positive samples. These were horses in training, some of which were entered into races in April and May.

“The panel considered there was no excuse for Al Zarooni to be in any doubt as to the illegality of administering anabolic steroids…

“Al Zarooni’s assertion that he did not know such administration was not permitted in the UK was simply not truthful.”

Since the scandal broke the BHA have conducted tests on all the horses at Al Zarooni’s stables and their results should be revealed early next week.

In his appearance before the BHA hearing, Al Zarooni also implicated a junior vet and two Godolphin stable foremen, while the BHA said that they had no plans to formally interview Sheikh Mohammed.

Al Zarooni – who had all but superseded original Godolphin trainer and former policeman Saeed bin Suroor as the Sheikh’s favoured handler – had brought the steroids into Britain on a flight from Dubai, where horses in training can be given anabolic steroids and race 28 days later.

In a brief statement released on Tuesday, the BHA said Al Zarooni had decided to contest the length of his ban, adding that a date for the appeal hearing would be announced in due course.

Al Zarooni’s appeal, though, may force a rethink of Sheikh Mohammed’s desire to stay in the sport as his reasons for being involved differ markedly from his rivals, who treat it as a business.

“It has to be fun for him, or it ceases to be worthwhile,” Godolphin’s racing manager Simon Crisford said at the weekend.

Dawn Approach, though, remains the bright note for Godolphin and will attempt to add the Epsom Derby to his Guineas win on June 1 and if successful it would be the first time the Derby winner has sported the Godolphin blue silks, which has seen 203 Group One races fall to them in the 21 years of their existence.