The British Horseracing Authority reported in a statement on Monday, May 20 that already banned horse trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni has been found responsible for the doping of seven more horses who tested positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid.
The seven horses now found to be under the influence of anabolic steroids include "Encke," who won St. Leger in 2012.
The Reuters report on the finding of seven more doped horses under the custodianship of Zarooni reminds readers that previous to these findings, the Godolphin trainer was found guilty of having doped 11 other horses at his Newmarket, England stable.
The BHA last month effectively banned Zarooni from the sport upon these previous findings. Zarooni has admitted to having doped four other horses, but still contends that the severity of his punishment should be reconsidered by appeal.
Each Godolphin-owned horse in training in New Market has been tested by the BHA. 391 horses were tested, with blood samples being drawn from the animals that were trained by both Zarooni and Saeed bin Suroor.
Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum owns the horses and Godolphin, and New Market is, according to Reuters, "the town best known as the headquarters of British flat racing."
As the horses that were trained by bin Suroor did not test positive for anabolic steroids, he may take over Zarooni's Moulton Paddocks stable, barring any interference by the BHA.
The BHA has said in a statement that there will not be any separate action taken against bin Suroor while Zarooni's appeal is going on. No date has yet been set for the appeal itself.
"These test results endorse the swift action and measures taken by the BHA in this matter," BHA Chief Executive Paul Bittar said. "Whatever the outcome of his appeal before the independent Appeal Board, the gravity and scale of the infringements warranted Mahmood Al Zarooni being removed from control of the yard as quickly as possible."
The BHA has added that St. Leger winner Encke, which has yet to race since that win, did not test positive for anabolic steroids after the race.
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