Ronnie O’Sullivan becomes only the second man to successfully defend the World Snooker Championships at the Crucible, and the disgraced Godolphin trainer, Mahmood Al Zarooni, is banned from racing for 8-years after the doping scandal that rocked the horse racing world.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has achieved a feat that only the great Stephen Hendry holds on his resume, after successfully defending his World Championship at the Crucible defeating Barry Hawkins 18 frames to 12, earlier today.
It’s a great achievement for the Rocket, not only because it is his fifth world title (he has won every final he has contested), but it comes on the back of a year long sabbatical from the game as he deals with his own personal demons.
Before the championships had even begun questions were being posed about potential ring rust and whether his state of mind was ready to beat the world’s best players. He told the press that he had missed the game during his time away, said that it gave him life structure and purpose and intimated he would be around for a long time coming. But on Thursday, after disposing of Stuart Bingham 13-4, he told the waiting press that the game is boring; holds nothing for him and he is only playing for the money.
O’Sullivan takes £250,000 for his victory and it will help a man who seems to be beset by financial concerns.
“I don’t know where all of my money is gone?“ He told The Sunday Times, “The better I do the worse it is for me in some ways. I have an ex-missus driving me mad and I have court orders slapped all over me. I’m better off not earning because it all goes on court and lawyers fees. I might as well be skint.”
Yeah…there’s no hiding this check Ronnie.
Disgraced Godolphin Trainer is Banned For Racing For 8-Years
Disgraced Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni has been banned from the world of horse racing for eight years after being found responsible for doping horses belonging to the stable of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. In addition to the punishment dished out to the 37-year old, 15 horses have been banned from racing for six months.
The decision is going to hit Sheikh Mohammed in the pocket, but one imagines it’s a financial burden the Dubai ruler can withstand. What is under question is how damaging the drugs scandal will be to the future of the good name of the Godolphin stable.
Channel 4’s Claire Balding tried to find answers to some of those questions when she faced Sheikh Mohammed moments after Dawn Approach’s victory at the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday; but alas he was in no mood to talk. Balding managed to fire off only three questions before the Sheikh walked away, leaving Dawn Approach’s trainer Jim Bolger to face the remaining questions.
“I come from the Arabian Peninsula and we face challenge every day,” said the Sheikh after Balding had asked if he had considering staying away from Newmarket in the wake of the doping scandal.
Al Zarooni administered the steroids ethylestranol and stanozol to the horses and still maintains that he did not know he was breaking the rules.
“I don’t think he has much to worry about as some people think. The person at the top cannot be responsible for everything.” Bolger told Balding.
Oh…I think you’ll find that he is.
