Former Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni has appealed his eight-year worldwide ban for giving his racehorses anabolic steroids.
Al Zarooni's suspension came as a result from 11 of his horses testing positive for ethylestranol and stanozolol. Blood samples were taken from his horses April 9, and a hearing before the British Horseracing Authority Disciplinary Panel was held April 25.
"The appeal is against the severity of the penalty of eight years' disqualification imposed on Mr. Al Zarooni by the disciplinary panel at the hearing," the BHA said in a statement. "The date for the appeal hearing will be confirmed in due course."
The steroid case rocked British horse racing and brought major embarrassment to Godolphin and its owner, Sheik Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai. The stables formerly run by the 37-year-old Al Zarooni have been locked down in the wake of the scandal.
Al Zarooni was charged with violating multiple rules related to banned substances, as well as failing to keep medication records and with conduct prejudicial to the sport.
Seven horses tested positive for ethylestranol and four for stanozolol–the same steroid found in the urine of Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson in his positive test at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Al Zarooni told investigating officers he also administered the substances to four more horses, but they weren't tested when the BHA visited the stables.
Read previous reports of the situation here and here.
