Banned

Today's Al Ittihad reports that an Abu Dhabi court has ruled against Arabic newspaper Emarat Al Youm in a libel case dating back to October 2006, when the newspaper published an article alleging that a UAE racing stable was doping horses.

Al Ittihad says that Emarat Al Youm (the Arabic daily from Dubai's Arab Media Group and sister title to Emirates Businesss 24x7) is to be suspended from publication for 20 days with immediate effect.

Emarat Al Youm editor in chief Sami Reyami and AMG CEO Abdullatif Al Sayegh have also been fined Dhs 20,000 each, Al Ittihad reports.

The verdict follows a 'not guilty' verdict returned in January 2007 and was the result of a court appeal. Previous posts on this here and here are not awfully interesting.

UPDATE
According to arabianbusiness.com, AMG has not heard anything about any ban and will publish as normal tomorrow. I'll be waiting for the paperboy!