FW: When It Rains, It Pours...
Dubai ruler's horses fail dope test
Thu Apr 9, 2009 4:54pm BST
DUBAI (Reuters) - Dubai's ruler and the chairman of conglomerate Dubai World have been suspended from horse racing after their horses tested positive for banned substances, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) said on Thursday.
The office of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, also Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, said in a statement published by local newspapers that traces of banned substances had been found in two of his horses which took part in endurance racing.
"At the moment Sheikh Mohammed is suspended from competition," Malina Gueorguiev, spokesperson for the FEI, told Reuters by telephone from Geneva.
Dubai World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem had also been "referred to the tribunal which has held a preliminary hearing," said Gueorguiev. He would be suspended from competition until a decision was taken, she added.
Bin Sulayem's office said in a statement sent to Reuters that he was "totally unaware that his horse had been given the substance and unreservedly condemns administration of such drugs.
"He will work in full cooperation with the FEI in their investigation."
(Reporting by Tamara Walid; Editing by Clare Fallon. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Unfortunate.