Further shame has been heaped on Sheik Mohammed’s Godolphin operation with seven more horses trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni testing positive for a banned drug.
The seven, all of which were found to have been given the anabolic steroid stanozolol, include 2012 St Leger winner Encke.
The colt was tested twice last year, including after his Classic win at Doncaster in September.
While there is no question of him being stripped of his Leger win, the colt’s achievements will inevitably be tarnished by his involvement in the biggest drugs scandal ever to hit British horseracing.
Also, for the first time, the list of positive tests include a horse to have run this season — Improvisation, a maiden winner at Newmarket’s Craven meeting on April 17, who was not tested after his victory.
The 14-day objection period has passed, but the BHA or connections of the beaten horses could launch a challenge to the result citing wilful breach of the rules of racing.
The new batch of positives proved that the abuse of banned drugs at Britain’s biggest racing operation was even worse than initially believed.
High profile: Encke won the St Leger last season, one of the biggest flat races in the country
The BHA will conduct further interviews with staff at the Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket which Al Zarooni controlled until last month. He has been banned for eight years after 11 of his horses tested positive for ethylestranol or stanozolol when BHA drug testers visited the yard on April 9.
Al Zarooni, who involved three other Godolphin employees in his skulduggery, also admitted giving the drugs to four other horses which had not been tested and was quickly banned, just four days after the scandal broke.
Yesterday’s results, after 391 Godolphin-owned horses trained by Al Zarooni, or with his colleague Saeed Bin Suroor, show the banned trainer, who has launched an appeal against the severity of his suspension, was not as candid in his evidence as he claimed.
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford admitted: ‘We were very surprised and very disappointed.
Fresh start: Saeed bin Suroor, who will take over at Moulten Paddocks on a temporary basis, and Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford talk‘Obviously the version of events we were given at the time has proved not to be correct. The full picture is worse than we thought and we are working with the BHA to get everything back in order. This highlights the reasons why Sheik Mohammed ordered the lockdown of Moulton Paddocks until tests had been completed.
‘This is not an endemic problem within Godolphin, it relates to one trainer only — Saeed’s horses have tested clear. We now have to move forward. This is not going to happen again. This is a one-off situation with a trainer who was involved with Godolphin. We will put procedures in place to make sure it will never happen again.’
Like the initial 15 horses found to have been given anabolic steroids, the seven new horses will not be allowed to run for six months.
Adam Brickell, Director ofIntegrity, Legal and Risk for the BHA, said: ‘We will not be taking any separate action in respect of these additional positive results while Mr Al Zarooni’s appeal process is on-going. In the meantime, the latest findings from HFL Sport Science will form the subject of further interviews as part of the BHA’s continuing investigation.
‘The findings will be shared with Godolphin and will also assist the BHA with regard to the future licensing of the yard.’
BHA chief executive, Paul Bittar, added: ‘These test results endorse the swift action taken by the BHA in this matter. Whatever the outcome of his appeal, the gravity and scale of the infringements warranted Mahmood Al Zarooni being removed from control of the yard as quickly as possible.’
Having been cleared, Bin Suroor will now take temporary charge of Moulton Paddocks. It will be two weeks before any horse can run from the yard.
For Godolphin, hoping to draw a rapid line under events, unsettling questions still hang in the air with racing’s reputation also battered.
Can such widespread use of drugs in a stable have gone on with only four people knowing? Is the BHA’s random drug testing programme woefully inadequate?
Inevitably, people will wonder whether Encke was given drugs before, even though he passed race-day tests. This was emphatically denied by Crisford, who said: ‘The perception might be one thing, but the truth is that he was tested on both occasions.’
Frankie Dettori’s team are understood to be considering taking legal action against the BHA and France-Galop, with the bureaucratic impasse over the jockey’s return following the end of his six-month drugs ban no nearer to conclusion last night.
THE SEVEN NEW HORSES CAUGHT UP IN GODOLPHIN DRUGS SCANDALENCKERaced four times in 2012 concluding with victory in the St Leger (Group 1) on September 15 at Doncaster. Unraced since. The horse was subjected to post race tests (both negative) on 22nd August at York and again at Doncaster after the St Leger.
ENERGIZERWon at Royal Ascot 2012 when trained in Germany. Finished last of six in the Great Voltigeur (Group 2) at York on 22nd August on only start for Mahmood Al Zarooni. Unraced since.
GENIUS BEASTUnraced since finishing eighth of nine in 2011 St Leger.
IMPROVISATIONRan twice in 2012 as a two year old, finishing third to Steeler on his second start in a Goodwood maiden. Won a maiden race at Newmarket on 17th April 2013 after which the horse was not selected for post race testing.
STAMFORDRan twice in 2012 as a two year old, finishing third and fourth in maiden races. Unraced since.
STEELERAs yet unraced in the colours of Godolphin. Ran six times for Mark Johnston as a two year old including winning the Royal Lodge (Group 2) at Newmarket and finishing third in the Racing Post Trophy before transferring to Godolphin.
ZIP TOPUnraced since finishing second to Camelot in Racing Post Trophy in October 2011, when trained by Jim Bolger.
More... Godolphin doping trainer Al Zarooni lodges appeal against his ban despite admitting his part in racing's biggest scandal Godolphin ready for return to action as Bin Suroor takes charge of Newmarket stable
