UAE: Sheik Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum of Dubai Banned from Competing in Horse Races

Allheadlinenews.com

August 14, 2009

Anne Lu - Celebrity News Service News Writer

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (BANG) - Dubai's Crown Prince has been banned from riding in horse endurance races. The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has forbidden Sheik Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum from competing in any of its events for 10 months after his horse tested positive for a steroid.

The 26-year-old royal was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

Hamden is the son of Dubai's ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, who is currently serving six-month ban after one of his horses failed two drug tests.

Sheik Mohammed's horse trainer has also been banned from the sport after he admitted administering a steroid and a hypertension medication to his equines.

Hamden's horse Eo Fawati tested positive for anabolic steroids after a 120km endurance race in Bahrain in January.

In a written statement to the FEI, he claimed a private investigation at his family's stables had failed to discover how the drugs entered the horse's system.


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