01 October,2011 07:44 AM IST | | Prakash Gosavi
In a marathon meeting at the Pune racecourse that lasted over five hours yesterday, the Board Of Appeal (BoA) reduced trainer Cooji Katrak's punishment to 85 days from 120 days in the Boldenone case while Pesi Shroff, who was awarded a month's suspension, failed to get any relief, it is learnt.
The two top trainers of western India, along with another trainer SK Sunderji, were punished by the RWITC stewards last month on account of their horses, who participated in the Indian 1000 & 2000 Guineas in December 2010, testing positive for banned substance Boldenone. Sunderji, who got one month's suspension, chose not to appeal against the verdict and is already undergoing the punishment, while Katrak and Shroff made fresh submissions to the Board Of Appeal yesterday.
Both Shroff and Katrak's respective punishments will come into effect from Monday which means that Shroff will not be able to saddle horses in the Nanoli Pune Derby (Oct. 9), and Katrak will be out of action until December 26. He will not only miss the start of the Mahalaxmi season but also the first two Classics - the 1000 & 2000 Guineas.
