Godolphin steroids: It's OK though, he didn't realize they were banned
 

:rolleyes:

Al Zarooni faces BHA disciplinary hearing after positive drug tests

(Racing Post - excerpt)
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.


http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...=last7DaysNews

My favorite part is toward the end.

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."

Riiiiight.

But they don't use drugs in Europe

Dahlink! If my title is going to be changed to include the word Godolphin (which is just dandy) could we please have it spelled correctly? Thanks!

You're not implying any wrongdoing here, right?

Geez, the man didn't know. :D

I thought the data was really inferring something weird going on with his horses, and I stayed away from all his runners on DWC night as a result.

This season in the UAE - Al Zarooni first-off-the-layoff runners were a combined 9-for-41. All subsequent starters were a combined 1-for-38 (before the DWC meeting, they were 1-for-29). That lone winner was an even money shot in a 12-furlong turf race, and he beat a terrible field.

It's like some were totally primed for their first start and once they got into the season, totally floundered. It's pretty tough to go 1-for-38 after having gone 9-for-41 with the same group.

Still think its drug free over there?

My first reaction to this story as well.

:tro:

There is no permissive race-day medication, but there have certainly been suspensions and fines for overages.

Godolphin Racing are proud supporters of the WHOA initiative.......

Water, Hay, Oats, AND Steroids

It's hard when you are compensated by them to be completely objective. Nice quip about raceday meds like it matters if you own the lab doing the testing.

Lets call a spade a spade. They cheat with the same veracity as any other major concern.

Oh dear what a disaster - If only now the Sheikh realises that the best way for his horses long term is to send them all to Fabre, that would be great...

So many questions for Godolphin to answer over steroids discovery
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog...sheik-mohammed

Nick Luck 9:30-10 on ATR today on Al Zarooni, Godolphin.. (BONUS: UK Classics preview & Lines of Battle thoughts):
http://www.thoroughbredracingradione...y=23&Itemid=35

has that trainer been let go by godolphin yet?

I expect to read all about it in Joe Drape's May 3rd column.

Quote from Simon Crisford...

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."

Godolphin said no further comment would be made pending the completion of the BHA investigation and inquiry.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/hors...-29215956.html

It's hard for the guy to keep track of his wives. Horses?

Give Muhammed a break.

Funny Michael Gill said the same thing a few years back..Maybe they know each other?

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...bha?source=rss



Mahmood Al Zarooni was charged with violating multiple rules related to banned substances in horses after samples from 11 of his horses at stables in Newmarket, England were found to contain traces of anabolic steroids.

The British Horseracing Authority also charged the 37-year-old trainer with failing to keep medication records and with conduct prejudicial to the sport.

Al Zarooni, one of two British-based trainers for Godolphin, was ordered to appear before a BHA disciplinary panel in London April 25 and could be stripped of his license.

Statement from Sheikh Mohammed via Godolphin.com

http://www.godolphin.com/news/latest...toum-Statement

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."

Where was all of this before?

That reads like someone who is embarrassed they got caught. Unless of course people actually believe European racing is as drug free as some want us to believe.

In that case I have a bridge to sell. Real cheap.

Just out of curiosity, should they?

Does anyone have a strong feeling either way?

Al Zarooni runs one of two stables near Newmarket at which Sheikh Mohammed's horses are trained. The BHA said it had no plans to test horses at the other Godolphin stables where Saeed Bin Suroor is trainer

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/racing/new...ectid=10879656

What the impact of Godolphin doping furore means to horse racing
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013...g-horse-racing

Channel 4/Racing UK presenter Nick Luck made that abundantly clear Tuesday on ATR when he said that the medication situation in Europe isn't 'as black and white as some would have you believe'..

The deafening silence from the previously strident on this topic is remarkable.

I dont think many do actually believe that - I have said it to Scavs many times, it happens here as well!!

Sure sounds like someone who is taking great pains to convince people he had no idea what Al Zarooni was doing and distance himself from the scandal. How convenient for him that he has the financial resources to test all of his horses. But should anyone really be convinced that testing that he is paying for and controlling are really accurate?

i think they should test the suroor horses as well. what, we're supposed to just accept that it was just the one trainer, cause the sheik says so? i saw in his statement about ethics-did anyone raise a brow at that? or is the sheik as ethical as he can be in some of his dealings?

For all you doubters they are SOOO not full of $hit in Dubai that they didn't even bother with a city sewage system. :eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pQdj...layer_embedded :D

Godolphin has private vets that treat their horses, everything is done in-house. So my first question would be where did the drugs come from? Did the vets order them legally or were they obtained via shady circumstances? While the trainer says that he did not know that anabolic steroids were illegal for use in England on racehorses at anytime (highly questionable claim) surely the vets know the rules especially considering someone seemed to know what the safe withdrawal times were.

This trainers yard was spot checked by the BHA because of two violations last year though relatively minor compared to this. Surely the Sheikh and the senior racing advisers knew of these violations. Wouldn't the overhaul of the procedures and its controls been taken on when this happened last year?

While it is just speculation on my part I'd guess that horses in Suroors' yard will be checked at a later date but right now the BHA could be afraid of what they might find.

definitely more to the story. seems the trainer will fall on his sword, but no way he was the only one involved. how could he be?

The 15 horses to have been treated with steroids banned from competition for six months, according to reports out of England just now.

So are you on the Shieks payroll?

I cant wait until i can say those words. ;)

I would like to submit my resume to be your Gaming, Alcohol and Firearms Czar.

Always got the feeling that these 2 don't go well together.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...ion?source=rss

8 year suspension.

Wow they wrapped it up very quickly.

I was inspired by the ATF, but I gave up tobacco years ago.