Al Zarooni banned on ‘terrible day’ for Goldophin

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford spoke of “a terrible day for British racing” after trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni was disqualified for eight years after admitting administering anabolic steroids to horses in his care.

Al Zarooni said he had made a “catastrophic error” in using the banned drugs on a number of runners in his yard, including former Qipco 1000 Guineas favourite Certify.

Al Zarooni was called before the British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel at a hastily-arranged hearing yesterday afternoon after 11 horses returned positive samples for ethylestranol and stanozolol following a random testing at his Newmarket yard earlier this month.