Johnson facing BHA charges

HOWARD Johnson has been charge by the British Horseracing Authority having admitted to running a horse that had undergone a neurectomy whilst under his care.

The neurectomy came to light following a post-mortem carried out on Striking Article after the horse was pulled up and euthanized at Musselburgh on February 7.

The procedure involves severing nervous connection to the lower leg to cause numbness. It is banned under the Rules of Racing on welfare grounds.

Johnson has also been charge under a separate investigation in relation to the administration of laurabolin, an anabolic steroid containing nandrolone, to three other horses under his care.

A provisional date of February 10 has been scheduled for disciplinary panel of the BHA to consider the case.