A trainer at one of the UK's top racing stables has admitted to a "catastrophic error" after a string of his horses tested positive for anabolic steroids.
Eleven horses at the Godolphin stables in Newmarket, which is owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, failed drug tests.
Four tested positive for stanozolol, the steroid used by disgraced Olympic sprinter Ben Johnson at the Seoul Olympics, and seven others had ethylestranol in their system.
Trainer Mahmood al Zarooni will now have to attend a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) disciplinary inquiry into the scandal.
In a statement, Mr al Zarooni said: "I deeply regret what has happened. I have made a catastrophic error.
"Because the horses involved were not racing at the time, I did not realise that what I was doing was in breach of the rules of racing. I can only apologise for the damage this will cause to Godolphin and to racing generally."
Sheikh Mohammed congratulating his jockey after winning the Dubai World Cup Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said the discovery marked a "dark day" for the stables.
"His Highness Sheikh Mohammed was absolutely appalled when he was told and this is completely unacceptable to him. We will await the outcome of the BHA inquiry before taking any further internal action," he said.
"Sheikh Mohammed has instructed me to begin an urgent review of all of our procedures and controls. That is already underway and we will take advice from the BHA in completing it."
The samples were taken from 45 horses at the stables in Moulton Paddocks, Newmarket on April 9, 11 of which came back positive.
Certify, a filly unbeaten in her four career outings to date, was among those to test positive for ethylestranol.
The horse has now been withdrawn from the 1,000 Guineas race at Newmarket next month.
Gold Cup runner-up Opinion Poll was among the four animals who tested positive for stanazolol.
Adam Brickell, director of integrity, legal and risk for the BHA, said: "Ethylestranol and stanozolol are anabolic steroids and therefore prohibited substances under British Rules of Racing, at any time - either in training or racing."
He added: "The horses which have produced positive tests will also not be permitted to race with immediate effect and for an extended period of time.
"As part of the ongoing process a decision will be made as to what period this suspension will be imposed for."
The National Trainers Federation's chief executive Rupert Arnold said he had been "shocked" by the test results.
"The Godolphin management, for whom Mr Al Zarooni trains, is a byword for the highest levels of professionalism, integrity and sportsmanship," he said.
"News reports so far suggest this case is an aberration and is not indicative of wider use of anabolic steroids in British horseracing.
"We fully endorse the British Horseracing Authority's testing in training regime and all efforts to prevent the use of any prohibited substance to gain an unfair advantage.
"Without wanting to diminish the seriousness of this case, in some ways it is a positive message that the presence of these substances was detected so the sport is kept clean."
The Goldolphin stable was founded in 1992 and has won more than 2,000 races worldwide, with winners in 14 countries.
Mr al Zarooni has trained a series of big-race winners since joining Sheikh Mohammed's operation three years ago.
They include the richest race in the world - the Dubai World Cup - with Monterosso last March, and then the St Leger at Doncaster with Encke in September.
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