Suffolk Constabulary "is investigating whether to bring criminal charges against the racehorse trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni," according to Matt Hunter of the EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES. A police spokesperson said, "Suffolk Constabulary is working with the British Horseracing Authority to establish if any criminal offences have been committed." The spokesperson said that they "would not be making any further comment about the investigation at this stage" (EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES, 4/29).
LAYING IT OUT: In London, Andy Stephens reported the deceit and audacity of Al Zarooni "was laid bare" Tuesday when the BHA "published its full reasons for suspending him." Al Zarooni brought the drugs into the U.K. "on a flight from Dubai and made up unmarked syringes containing 4ml of stanasol, the anabolic steroid that promotes muscle growth." On March 14, the 37-year-old trainer "casually gave them to a veterinary assistant, named for the first time as Sharif Mahboob, from the window of his car and instructed him to give the drugs to five horses he listed on a piece of paper." After his crime was detected, Al Zarooni claimed that "he did not know he was breaking the rules but, tellingly, he made no reference to the steroids being administered in medication books." Sometime between March 14 and April 7, he "also administered nitrotain, which contains ethylestranol, to seven other horses" (LONDON TIMES, 4/30).
