LAUSANNE, Switzerland � The International Equestrian Federation has banned the crown prince of Dubai from riding in endurance races for 10 months after his horse tested positive for a steroid.

Sheik Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum was also ordered to pay $4,900 in fine and costs, according to a ruling published on the FEI�s Web site.
He is the 26-year-old son of Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, who is currently serving a 6-month ban after one of his horses twice failed post-race doping tests. In Sheik Mohammed�s case, his trainer admitted administering a steroid and a hypertension medication and was banned from the sport for 12 months.
Sheik Mohammed�s wife, Princess Haya of Jordan, is president of the governing body but took no part in the two disciplinary processes.
Sheik Hamdan rode Eo Fawati in a 74.5-mile endurance race at Bahrain in January where the horse tested positive for metabolites of the anabolic steroid stanozolol.
In a written statement to the FEI�s three-man tribunal, the sheik said an investigation at his family�s Emirates Endurance stables did not establish how the drug entered Eo Fawati�s system.
�It is likely that there is intense competition amongst grooms, and this might lead to errors of judgment by them,� Sheik Hamdan stated.
The tribunal panel said in its ruling that a rider had ultimate responsibility for his staff�s actions and treatment of his horses.
It expected the Sheik �to enforce appropriate stable management that demonstrates respect for the applicable rules and horse welfare.�
The sheik was provisionally suspended from riding in April and the four months already served will count against his 10-month ban. He can appeal the judgment.
Princess Haya has used her presidency of the FEI to campaign against doping in equestrian sport and has acknowledged that a problem exists in desert endurance races, which are not an Olympic discipline.