Trainers face grilling on steroid use Australian trainers planning to raid Royal Ascot might have to brace themselves for a grilling on their use of anabolic steroids, as the fallout from the Godolphin doping scandal spreads. Some British racing identities, including English Derby-winning trainer Roger Charlton, have voiced their concern over rules that allow Australian trainers to treat horses with anabolics "out of competition," and are querying whether their horses might be competing against Australian challengers on a level playing field. Australian sprinters such as Choisir, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast, Ortensia and Black Caviar have all won big sprints in England, while others such as So You Think, Starspangledbanner and Starcraft have also been successful on the world stage after transferring to European stables. Brian Stewart, the head of veterinary and welfare services with Racing Victoria, expects English authorities to scrutinise Australian challengers carefully given that Britain is leading the campaign for drug-free racing and the outlawing of steroids and any performance-enhancing substances. "We have not received anything from the [British Horseracing Authority] about this, but it would not be a surprise if they did raise some questions and concerns," he said on Monday. There are different rules and regulations across many racing jurisdictions but there is a growing push for a global standard which would outlaw the use of anabolic steroids in horses. It is an issue which is in my opinion likely to grow. Flemington trainer Danny O'Brien is targeting the Royal Ascot sprints with Shamexpress, while the connections of Black Caviar's half-brother, All Too Hard, who returned to racing with victory in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, are considering the group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot in June. Last week, one of Godolphin's two Newmarket-based trainers, Mahmood Al Zarooni, was banned for eight years after admitting that 15 horses in his Moulton Paddocks complex had been treated with anabolic steroids. Charlton, who won the English and French derbies with Quest For Fame and Sanglamore in his first season as a trainer in 1990 and has enjoyed a steady stream of big race wins since, has asked about the testing of any Australian horses who compete at Royal Ascot this summer and argues that international racing rules need to be harmonised to prevent anomalies in preparation. "British racing is the cleanest racing in the world, we're proud of that, and that is demonstrated by how few positive tests there are," he told the Racing Post. Most of those positive tests - and I've had one - are when the wrong food or bucket is given; negligence if you like, they are not deliberate. I think there is a debate about steroids and all we want, whether human or horses, is a level playing field, and I think it's unfortunate that animals or humans are given steroids. The paper reported that Charlton subsequently told British racing broadcaster Channel Four: "I think it would be fair if we had the same rules. I can appreciate different countries have different rules. You are allowed to use them in Dubai but not Europe. It would be much nicer if none of us used them. We want international competition. Dubai has been fantastic for racing. I would like more Australians to come to Royal Ascot, it's good fun. But I'm posing the debate that I'd like to have a level playing field.