Ismail Mohammed Fined for Use of Shockwave Therapy

Newmarket trainer Ismail Mohammed has been fined more than £17,000 by the Emirates Racing Authority and a vet banned for six months after eight breaches of a rule relating to shockwave therapy—a treatment that can accelerate healing in soft-tissue and bone injuries.

Mohammed, who has been sending out runners in Britain since 2012, pleaded guilty to eight charges involving four horses who ran in the 2019-20 Dubai season and were not given the required seven-day clearing period after being treated.

The British Horseracing Authority has a five-day stand-down limit for the practice, which some believe can mask pain, creating the need for a spell between its administration and raceday.

An inquiry chaired by Sam Shinsky along with Taylor Wilson and Ajay Anne took place June 28 as they heard evidence from Mohammed, his assistant Claude Piccioni, Fred Van Der Linde of the Dubai Equine Hospital, and David Craig, an ERA vet.

It was noted by stewards: "Mr. I. Mohammed advised that due to having two stables, one being based in the UK, he was not always present in his stable.

"Further, he was unaware shockwave therapy was being conducted on horses in his care within the seven clear days, however acknowledged that as the trainer he is the responsible person under the rules."

There was some disagreement on the dates when horses were treated, but stewards found Festival of Ages, who finished down the field in a Meydan handicap in January, and Sultanaa, fifth in a maiden at Abu Dhabi in March, had been subjected to shockwave therapy to suspensory ligaments "nil clear days prior to racing."

The verdict was delivered on Tuesday and Mohammed fined AED 80,000 (£17,166) and Van Der Linde disqualified until the end of December.

A group-winning trainer, Mohammed enjoyed the two biggest victories of his career thanks to the smart Educate, who won the Cambridgeshire in 2013 and landed the John Smith's Cup three years later.

Last year he was cleared of intentionally administering the banned substance ketamine to a horse in his care by a BHA-appointed independent disciplinary panel, but fined £1,000 for not taking sufficient measures to prevent cross-contamination.