Europe 1 with AFP 07:23, December 08, 2021
About fifteen people were arrested Tuesday morning in France, on suspicion of doping horses. Among them are Frédéric Rossi and his two nephews Cédric and Charley, three successful gallopers trainers. A judicial investigation was indeed opened following information obtained by the judicial police of Marseille.
About fifteen people were arrested Tuesday morning in France, due to suspicion of doping of horses, including three members of the Rossi family very well known in the world of galloping races, said a source familiar with the matter.
These arrests, led by the Central Service of Races and Games (SCCJ) in charge of the investigations, took place in the Paris region and in the Bouches-du-Rhône, continued the same source, confirming information from the
Parisian
.
"Some people are heard under police custody, others as witnesses," said the close source.
Among those placed in police custody are Frédéric Rossi and his two nephews Cédric and Charley, three successful gallopers trainers, installed in the Bouches-du-Rhône.
Information obtained by the judicial police
According to the
Parisian
, veterinarians and preparers are also heard.
This crackdown was ordered by an investigating judge in Aix-en-Provence as part of an open judicial investigation, in particular for equine doping, following information obtained by the Marseille judicial police.
Several searches were underway on Tuesday morning, in particular at the Calas training center (Bouches-du-Rhône) where the Rossi family's horses are practiced, according to a source close to the file.
With 94 victories in 2021, which brought in a total of 2,512,625 euros in earnings, Frédéric Rossi is in fifth place in the ranking of coaches established by France Galop, the company which organizes horse races.
His nephews Cédric and Charley are respectively in 10th and 36th place.