LONDON: A leading trainer for Godolphin was banned for eight years yesterday for his part in a major doping scandal that has rocked British horse racing.
The British Horseracing Authority handed the suspension to Mahmood Al-Zarooni at a disciplinary hearing after he admitted to giving 15 horses anabolic steroids at his stables in Newmarket, England.
All 15 horses were banned from racing for six months.
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.
“We believe that the eight-year disqualification issued to Mahmood Al-Zarooni ... will serve to reassure the public, and the sport’s participants, that use of performance-enhancing substances in British racing will not be tolerated and that the sport has in place a robust and effective anti-doping and medication control program,” BHA chief executive Paul Bittar said in a statement.
The banned horses include Certify, who had been the favorite for the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket next month before being pulled out of the race on Monday.
The scandal has already caused Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the head of Godolphin and ruler of Dubai, to lock down Al-Zarooni’s Moulton Paddocks stables in Newmarket, and order a round of blood tests for all his horses.
A mass media scrum hit Al-Zarooni when he arrived at BHA’s headquarters in central London with Simon Crisford, the racing manager of Godolphin — the most illustrious operation in horse racing.
Al-Zarooni, who represented himself at the hearing, said Monday he deeply regretted making a “catastrophic error,” saying the horses he doped weren’t racing at the time so he “did not realize that what I was doing was in breach of the rules of racing.” At a routine visit of Al-Zarooni’s stables on April 9, the BHA tested 45 horses. Seven 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 has told investigating officers that he administered four more horses with the prohibited substances, but they weren’t tested when the BHA visited the stables.
“The relevant rules in this case are explicit in that the use of anabolic steroids in horses in the care of a licensed trainer is prohibited and that strict liability for everything administered to horses while they are in training lies with the trainer,” Bittar said. “The BHA’s investigation has established that the substances in question were administered on the instruction of Mahmood Al Zarooni.” Sheik Mohammed said Wednesday he is “appalled and angered” at what has happened.
Godolphin trainer gets 8-year ban for doping
Godolphin trainer gets 8-year ban for doping
England coach Tuchel extends contract through to Euro 2028
- Thomas Tuchel has signed a new contract that will see him remain head coach of the England national football team through to the end of Euro 2028 in the UK and Ireland
LONDON:Thomas Tuchel has signed a new contract that will see him remain head coach of the England national football team through to the end of Euro 2028 in the UK and Ireland, the Football Association announced on Thursday.
Tuchel was confirmed as the successor to Gareth Southgate in October 2024 and has overseen an unbeaten qualification run to this year’s World Cup in North America, with England winning all eight group games under their German boss.
“I am very happy and proud to extend my time with England,” said the 52-year-old former Chelsea manager in an FA statement.
“It is no secret to anyone that I have loved every minute so far of working with my players and coaches, and I cannot wait to lead them to the World Cup.
“It is an incredible opportunity and we are going to do our very best to make the country proud,” added Tuchel, whose previous England deal ran only until the end of this year’s global showpiece.
The FA said that the new agreement with Tuchel would provide “clarity and full focus” amid speculation about his future after the World Cup.
Tuchel had been previously touted as a possible permanent successor to sacked former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, even though the English giants have experienced an upturn in form under caretaker boss Michael Carrick.
But in signing a new England contract, Tuchel appears to have ruled himself out of a post-World Cup move to Old Trafford.
The FA added that Tuchel’s senior backroom team — Anthony Barry, Henrique Hilario, Nico Mayer and James Melbourne — had all also agreed contract extensions through to the end of Euro 2028.
“I have had so much support from (FA chief executive) Mark (Bullingham), all my colleagues at the FA and from fans wherever I go that I did not hesitate when asked to continue in this dream job,” said Tuchel.
’No better candidate’
Extending his contract ahead of this year’s World Cup in North America is a clear sign of the FA’s confidence in Tuchel, looking to guide the England men’s team to their first major trophy in six decades.
“I am delighted Thomas has committed to stay with us through to the Euros in 2028,” said Bullingham.
“He was the right person for the job when he joined us for the World Cup campaign, and has only strengthened his reputation across the qualifiers...There is simply no better candidate available in world football.”
Tuchel, due to attend the Nations League draw in Brussels on Thursday, said in his first interview after succeeding Southgate that he wanted to add a “second star” to the England shirt by winning the 2026 World Cup.
The only major international tournament won by the England men’s team was when they triumphed on home soil at the 1966 World Cup, defeating the then West Germany in a Wembley final.
But they twice came close to ending that barren run under Southgate, losing in both the Euro 2020 and 2024 finals.
Tuchel’s England team eased through qualification, winning all eight matches in a group which also featured Albania, Serbia, Latvia and Andorra.
Tougher tests, however, await at the World Cup, with co-hosts Mexico in line to face England on home ground in the last 16 should Tuchel’s men top their group, with a possible quarter-final against five-time world champions Brazil to follow.
