The ruler of Dubai has ordered a decree to criminalize the use of steroids on race horses following a doping scandal involving his horses in England.

Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum says he has “directed that a decree be issued making, with immediate effect, the import, sale, purchase or use of anabolic steroids in horse sports a criminal offence under the UAE penal laws.”

Last month, former Godolphin trainer Mahmood al-Zarooni was banned for eight years for doping race horses at al Maktoum’s stables in Newmarket.

Al Maktoum says “regrettably, one of my stables in Europe has recently fallen below the standards that I expect and will tolerate.”