Al Zarooni Worked Alone, Says Report

AL ZAROONI WORKED ALONE, SAYS REPORT 
Godolphin has released the findings of a review into last year’s steroids scandal surrounding former trainer Mahmood al Zarooni, which shows that the trainer worked alone in obtaining and administering the medications and that Sheikh Mohammed had no involvement in the scandal. The review was conducted, under the instruction of Sheikh Mohammed, by the UK’s former Metropolitan Police chief commissioner Lord Stevens. Completed through the global advisory firm Quest, the review looked at the activities of Al Zarooni, who was banned from racing for eight years by the British Horseracing Authority, as well as the discovery of unlicensed medications on a Dubai Royal Air Wing flight at Stansted airport and at Moorley Farm, owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stud, in Newmarket. The report noted that the seizures at Stansted and Moorley Farm resulted from “management failings, insufficient oversight, and complacency within the organization,” although no link was found between the Al Zarooni case and the seizures. 
“Although HH Sheikh Mohammed’s equestrian operations are unusual in their size and scope, our review has highlighted the complexities of a regulatory framework that is a challenge for the entire equestrian industry,” Lord Stevens told PA Sport. “Throughout our investigation of the three entirely separate incidents, we have established that no evidence whatsoever exists to suggest that HH Sheikh Mohammed had any knowledge of the purchase, transportation or use of any unregulated medicines. Equally, neither did he have any knowledge of the illegal activities of Mahmood Al Zarooni.” 
Lord Stevens continued: “In our discussions with HH Sheikh Mohammed, he agreed to create a task force of experts to suggest ways to make it easier for all affected stakeholders in the equestrian industry to comply with the regulations. He will ask the task force to consider the creation of a global database containing country-by-country information on registered products that could be easily accessible to those seeking to transport veterinary medicine.”