Caught in controversy

Three top trainers — Pesi Shroff, Cooji Katrak and Sheraz Sunderji — are likely to approach the Board of Appeal in connection with the suspension and fines imposed on them in August by the stewards of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC). The urine samples of four of their horses taken after their races had tested positive for the anabolic steroid boldenone early in the year. The incident kicked up much heat and dust in the racing world as three of the horses had run in the Indian classics and one of them (Ocean and Beyond) had won the 2000 Guineas.

As per the stewards’ decision, Shroff was handed a 30-day suspension and Rs 10,000 fine, as it was his first offence. Katrak received the longest punishment — 120 days suspension and Rs 20,000 fine — from among the three as two of his horses were involved. Sunderji was slapped with a 45-day suspension and a fine of Rs 10,000. The punishment was to start from September 5. The stewards, led by RWITC chairman Vivek Jain, clarified that the past five years were taken as the cut-off period for determining medication offences. The Club also allowed the trainers the option of having an independent investigation conducted without the involvement of the Club.

Trainers (from left) Pesi Shroff, Cooji Katrak and Sheraz Sunderji

Former RWITC chairman Khushroo Dhunjibhoy, who is the owner of Eloise trained by Shroff, said in a statement widely reported in the Press: "The substantive evidence presented (by Shroff), in my opinion, was mitigating and should not have attracted any penalty. Further, the stewards ought to have had these products ( the horses’ feed supplements) independently tested at a laboratory of their choice which was capable of testing the products down to 0.1 nanogram as required under the rules of racing.”