Godolphin trainer to stand on horse doping charges

Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni will stand before a disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority on Thursday afternoon after samples taken from 11 of his horses were found to have contained traces of anabolic steroids.

Al Zarooni could lose his training licence in one of the most significant alleged doping scandals in recent racing history.

The 37-year-old has officially been charged with rule breaches related to prohibited substances, duty to keep medication records, and conduct prejudicial to racing.

The hearing will be held at 2:30pm at BHA headquarters in London.

Samples were taken earlier this month from 45 horses trained by Al Zarooni at Moulton Paddocks Stables, Newmarket.

Subsequent analysis revealed 11 of the samples contained ethylestranol and stanozolol, which are prohibited substances.

Al Zarooni is one of two British-based trainers responsible for the horses of powerful owners Godolphin, the brainchild of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed.