7 Horses Test Positive For Steroids, Banned Trainer Facing More Heat

Banned trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni is facing more trouble after 7 horses tested positive for steroids. British horse racing authorities (BHA) released a statement noting that they found stanozolol during testing with the horses, an anabolic steroid that improves muscle growth in animals and has also been used as treatment for humans with anemia.

The most notable horse in Al Zarooni’s doping scandal is the 2012 St. Leger winner Encke. The other six horses who tested positive are Energizer, Genius Beast, Improvisation, Stamford, Steeler and Zip Top.

This isn’t the first time Al Zarooni’s been caught for using performance enhancing drugs on his horses, as he’s currently appealing an eight-year ban from the BHA for 11 other horses who tested positive for anabolic steroids.

All the race horses are located at Godolphin Racing’s Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket, England where Al Zarooni got his start in 2010. Outside of winning the St. Ledger, he also won the Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race, with the British thoroughbred, Monterosso.

He was banned in April of 2013 and matters are only getting worse after his disciplinary hearing led to another visit and 7 more horses testing positive. Though the doping incidents continue to pile on top of each other, the BHA has stated that no separate actions of any kind would be taken “in respect of these additional positive results whilst Mr Al Zarooni’s appeal process is on-going.”

Blood samples of 391 horses were taken at the Godolphin stables of Al Zarooni and Saeed bin Suroor in Newmarket. All of Bin Suroor’s horses tested negative, and he is expected to take control of the stables once he’s cleared by the BHA.

“Whatever the outcome of his appeal before the independent Appeal Board, the gravity and scale of the infringements warranted Mahmood Al Zarooni being removed from control of the yard as quickly as possible,” the BHA said in a statement.

Do you believe Al Zarooni should be banned from British horse racing for life after 7 more horses tested positive for anabolic steroids?

[Image via Lostinfog]