Ex-Met boss heads horse doping probe

The 70-year-old has already begun the process of “assembling a team of experts” for an investigation which is likely to continue into the new year.

The ruler of Dubai’s racing organisations was placed under the spotlight after former Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni, now banned from racing, was found to have given banned performance-enhancing anabolic steroids to 22 of his horses in April. They included Encke who won last year’s Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster.

A consignment of veterinary products from Moorley Farm, which is owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stud Management Co Ltd and is used for training endurance horses, was seized in Newmarket in August.

An illegal shipment of unlicensed veterinary products was also taken from a Dubai Royal Air Wing Flight by Border Force officials at Stansted Airport in May.

Last month the British Horseracing Authority said it had been assured the seized products were not related to racing.

“Sheikh Mohammed is adamant that any evidence of violations of law or regulation in any jurisdiction should be shared with the appropriate authorities,” said Lord Stevens last night. “Our primary focus is on preventing any future systemic failures.”