24 August,2011 08:29 AM IST | | Prakash Gosavi
Despite an inordinate delay of nine months, followed by high drama last week when chairman of stewards of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), Shivlal Daga, resigned alleging that his colleagues were taking a 'soft' stand on drug-related offences, the RWITC stewards refused to budge to the mounting pressure and decided to wait for one more week before announcing their verdict in the sensational drug scandal that hit western India racing. Horses of three top trainersu00a0-- Pesi Shroff, C D Katrak & S K Sunderjiu00a0-- had tested positive for banned drug Boldenone. The racesu00a0-- the 1000 & 2000 Guineas, both grade 1 races -- were run in the month of December last year at Mahalaxmi. "The inquiry is over, we have heard out Pesi Shroff and Sunderji today," Vivek Jain, chairman of the club who also chaired Tuesday's meet, told MiD DAY, "but we have reserved the verdict which we will announce after hearing out Katrak next Tuesday."
On specifically asked if the stewards have held them guilty and reserved only the quantum of punishment, Jain clarified: "No, like the courts do sometimes, we have reserved the judgement until we hear out Cooji Katrak, because their cases are similar, so it would only be appropriate to pass the final verdict after hearing out Cooji Katrak."
