The telephone arraignment for defendants charged in a widespread horse doping scandal had a bizarre interruption Thursday when a caller suddenly got on the line and whispered that he hadn’t showered in days.

The incident came as Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil was presiding over the arraignment of the 19 defendants who are charged in the “systematic, international scheme” to boost race horses performances with illegal drugs.

“I just want you to know I took a shower. I haven’t been showering every day,” the man’s voice said in a whisper followed by laughs.

Judge Vyskocil admonished the caller and asked everyone on the call to mute their lines before the arraignment moved forward.

The 19 defendants — who are charged with a number of crimes for their roles in the scheme — each pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The defendants include trainer Jorge Navarro who allegedly “personally administered various adulterated and misbranded” drugs to prize-winning thoroughbred XY Jet at the annual Golden Shaheen race in Dubai in 2019.