Horse Racing

Butler to appeal five-year ban

ESPN staff

December 12, 2013

Gerard Butler has lodged an appeal against his five-year ban from training horses, the British Horseracing Authority has confirmed.

Butler was handed the suspension following a BHA hearing earlier in December, where he admitted to seven charges of doping nine of horses in his care with a banned anabolic steroid - of which five were given the joint treatment Sungate.

The 47-year-old also administered Rexogin to four of his horses via an injection method, but later stated he was unaware he breached the Rules of Racing after he received assurances from veterinary surgeons. Both substances contain the banned steroid stanozolol.

Following the hearing and confirmation of his ban, Butler spoke of how his naivety had contributed to what he described as a "devastating and humiliating experience."

The date of the appeal hearing is still to be decided by the BHA.

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