The International Equestrian Federation said Tuesday it is investigating the husband of its president after a horse he owns and rides failed doping tests after two races. FEI President Princess Haya, who has led a campaign for a drug-free sport, will step aside from her official duties when the ruling body meets to consider the case against her husband, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum. Sheik Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, accepted full responsibility in a statement issued by his office for the doping cases, which include a steroid and emerged in testing by his own staff after endurance races run in Bahrain and Dubai this year. “Whilst completely unaware and utterly condemning the administration of these substances, His Highness has volunteered his acceptance that he is legally the person responsible,” the statement issued from the Emirate late Monday said. Details of Sheikh Mohammed's case were published Tuesday on the FEI website. His endurance horse Tahhan tested positive for guanabenz after competing in 120-kilometer races at Bahrain in January and Dubai in February. It is used to treat hypertension. After the Bahrain race, the horse also had traces of 16b-hydroxy-stanozolol, a metabolite of stanozolol, an anabolic steroid used to build muscle and increase production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. It was used legally on 2008 Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, but also by disgraced Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson when he ran in the 100-meter final at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Sheikh Mohammed, who is also one of the world's leading breeders and owners of thoroughbred race horses, had his staff inform the FEI when told of the positive cases and instructed his race results be declared void, Monday's statement from Dubai said. “He has offered the highest level of cooperation to the FEI,” it said, and had ordered “a widespread internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the cases - the results of which will be shared with the FEI.” The federation said Tuesday that Sheikh Mohammed waived his right for backup samples to be tested. A case is likely to go before the FEI's seven-man tribunal, which has the power to impose a suspension from riding in endurance races.
