Shaikh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed shock and disbelief over his "disqualification" and not being awarded the gold medal for winning the FEI World Endurance Championship during Saturday's awards ceremony.

The FEI – the governing body for world equestrian endurance – was plunged into deep controversy following the manner in which they have handled the disqualification of last Thursday’s winner of the premier race Shaikh Hazza bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Shaikh Hazza claimed that he wasn’t officially informed by FEI of his disqualification and on what grounds until yesterday afternoon.
 
“I came to know the blood samples of my horse was found with some prohibitive substance around 5pm on the day of the awards ceremony that was scheduled at 7pm (Friday),” he told reporters at his residence at 1pm yesterday.

“I am still waiting for the FEI’s verdict and until such time I cannot take any action or appeal. I have no idea that my horse had any stimulant or prohibitive substance, and I don’t think its true as I have full faith on my trainer and the staff,” he added.

The entire issue was kept under wraps with the FEI director Ian Williams refusing to comment on the night of the awards ceremony.