Dubai ruler out of horse racing on drug charge

DUBAI: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al- Maktoum, Dubai���s billionaire ruler, has been suspended from horse racing after two of his horses tested positive for banned substances.

The sheikh, a leading world buyer of thoroughbreds, dropped out of the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Race on April 4 after tests by his staff on two horses detected traces of a steroid and a blood pressure drug, his office said in an e-mailed statement today.

The Dubai ruler, a professional rider, had twice competed on the two horses, once at an international event and the other time in the United Arab Emirates.