The Chairman of Royal Western India Turf Club K N Dhunjibhoy has expressed surprise that Animal Welfare Board of India has chosen to institute an inquiry even before the Stewards have received or deliberated on the matter concerning positive finding of Boldenone in the urine sample of the horse named Disraeli who was tested in training. Mr Dhunjibhoy has stated that the Animal Welfare Board had been misinformed about the episode.

His letter to the Chairman of AWBI Maj General Kharb reads as follows:

1. It is obvious from your letter that somebody has misinformed you, that Disraeli has been confirmed positive for Anabolic Steroids. As per the rules in force, a horse can only be considered positive after a confirmatory analysis has been done, if requested by the trainer. Since the trainer has requested for a confirmatory analysis, it is therefore incorrect to say that Disraeli has been positive at this time.

2. An enquiry will be ordered into the breach of rules by the stewards once the confirmatory analysis is received by the club and if it is found to be positive. Therefore your instituting an enquiry at the request of the owners is pre-mature.

3. The Stewards have noted the concern of the owners which normally they ought to have shared with the Stewards, but have instead chosen to lodge a complaint with the AWBI. What is surprising is that the AWBI has chosen to institute an inquiry even before the Stewards have received or deliberated on such a matter. The Stewards note with concern that Mrs Bakhtawar Chenoy is an inspector appointed by the AWBI and also a part owner of the horse and complainant. Propriety would demand, that she steps down from her position as Inspector before she lodges a complaint with the AWBI which concerns her as an owner and her husband as a trainer.

4. The Stewards have commenced normal investigation into this matter and as per normal practice, the Stewards have ordered follow up samples of horses that report positive for prohibited substances. Therefore your expressing, that you found it surprising that Disraeli was retested, is unfounded because you are probably unware of the rules and practices, that are required to be followed by the stewards.

5. Further as an investigative tool, Stewards have decided to carry out hair follicle tests to try and ascertain the approximate time of administration as has been recommended by AWBI.

6. Lastly, we have to state that the Stewards are duty bound to conduct an enquiry as per the rules, should the confirmatory analysis prove to be positive and shall not wait for a report on the enquiry to be conducted by the AWBI. We would however assure you that if there is any credible fresh evidence, which may emerge from any enquiry instituted by AWBI and if presented by trainer Bezan Chenoy, the owners or AWBI to the Stewards, the same will be considered by the Stewards.