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ECM Blogs
Doping Cases at the Olympics
Friday, August 22nd, 2008
The following combinations did not compete in the Jumping individual final competition held Thursday, 21 August. They have been provisionally suspended by the FEI further to doping/medication control tests that indicated the presence of capsaicin in each horse.
Rider Horse
Bernardo Alves (BRA) Chupa Chup Christian Ahlmann (GER) Cöster Denis Lynch (IRL) Latinus Tony Andre Hansen (NOR) Camiro
Capsaicin is classified as a« doping » prohibited substance given its hypersensitizing properties, and as a « medication class A » prohibited substance for its pain relieving properties.
As previously communicated, the FEI provisionally suspends all competitors who test positive in doping or positive medication cases at the Olympic Games in the interests of the integrity of the sport.
Christian Ahlmann was notified of his suspension yesterday evening (Wednesday, 20 August) further to receipt of the test results by the FEI from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Laboratory yesterday afternoon.
A preliminary hearing was held at 10h00 this morning (21 August) before a member of the FEI Tribunal who confirmed the suspension.
The other riders - Tony Andre Hansen, Bernardo Alves, Denis Lynch - were notified earlier today (21 August) further to receipt of their positive test results this morning. All three of them were provisionally suspended.
Preliminary hearings were held with the respective National Federations in the following order: 14h00 – Brazil; 15h00 – Ireland; 16h00 – Norway. The hearings were held before a member of the FEI Tribunal who confirmed the suspension.
FURTHER STEPS
Confirmatory analysis of the B-samples will be carried out very shortly according to the accelerated procedure in place for the Olympic Games. Upon report of a positive B-sample result, evidence and written submissions will be requested from the rider, and a three member panel of the FEI Tribunal will be appointed. This panel should take a decision as to the applicable sanctions as early as possible further to the accelerated procedure, and providing for a hearing to be held as necessary. The competition results will be amended as indicated in the Tribunal’s final decision.
REPORT BY THE SECOND FEI VICE PRESIDENT ON DRESSAGE
A detailed report on the findings of the FEI Second Vice President concerning a meeting held in Hong Kong was produced. The conclusion of the report is that the meetings had not affected the judging. The procedure will, however, be tightened so that this will not happen again. Dressage has had an excellent competition which was judged to the high standards expected at the Olympic Games.
Clarification on the procedures to be followed in relation to the positive doping /medication cases at the 2008 Olympic Games
Below are some clarifications on the procedure that will be followed in relation to the positive doping /medication cases at the 2008 Olympic Games unveiled by the FEI on 21 August 2008.
The process will follow the Accelerated Medication Control Procedure during & after the 2008 Olympic Games which is part of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian events at the 2008 Olympic Games (Annex G), available on FEI Olympic website.
Further to that procedure, B tests commence within 2 days of notification of the positive A results.
The following is an indicative timeline. As per Annex G, these are procedural deadlines intended to ensure prompt resolution of judicial proceedings affecting competition results. As with any legal proceeding, specific circumstances may affect these deadlines.
Indicative timeline:
Samples received by lab 18 August (Ahlmann/Cöster) & 19 August (others).
Positive A result reported to FEI 20 August (Ahlmann/Cöster) & 21 August (others).
B sample analysis process to commence 22 August (Ahlmann/Cöster) & 23 August (others).
B sample results to be reported within 7 days (30 August).
Hearing to be held within the next week (by 8 September).
Tribunal (per its own targets) to issue decision no later than 28 days of hearing or last submissions, whichever occurs last (latest first week of October).
Updates will be issued on the results of the B sample tests (by 30 August), hearings (by 8 September) and final decisions (latest first week of October).
