FEI fumbles WEC dope case
Wednesday, May 4th, 2005
On 28 April 2005, the FEI Judicial Committee decided the positive
medication case concerning the horse Hachim and rider HH Sheik Hazza
Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (UAE), who won the gold medal of the
World Endurance Championship in Dubai last January.
Analysis of the urine sample taken from Hachim, conducted by the associate Laboratory of the FEI Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Equine Forensic Unit (UAE), revealed the presence of Methylprednisolone, which is a prohibited substance according to FEI Rules.
A confirmatory analysis was requested by the Person Responsible (PR) and was performed by the FEI approved central laboratory, Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques, France, on 24 March 2005. This analysis confirmed the presence of Methylprednisolone.
However the PR was not duly informed of the date and place of the confirmatory analysis (B Sample) and was therefore unable to send a witnessing analyst to the laboratory, despite having requested the opportunity to be represented.
While noting the existence of two positive results, the Judicial Committee nevertheless decided that the fact that the PR did not have the opportunity to have a witness present at the confirmatory analysis compromised his rights to such an extent that the results had to be disregarded. The Judicial Committee cited several relevant decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in reaching its ruling, which terminates the proceedings.
Consequently, the results of the FEI World Endurance Championship remain unchanged as published on the FEI website. The FEI Secretariat will ensure that HH Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan will receive the Gold medal and all relevant prizes won by him. The Judicial Committee is not ordering a new Official Award Ceremony to be held.
Hachim, ridden by HH Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (UAE) won the FEI World Endurance Championship held in Dubai on 27 January 2005.
Metylprednisolone is an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid acting on the locomotor system and is graded 3 by the Medication Sub-Committee of the FEI. Under the FEI grading system, a substance is graded “1” if it has a relative high potential to affect the performance of the horse and is grade “5” if it has a relative low potential to affect the performance of the horse.
The Official Award Ceremony by the Organising Committee, who did not invite HH Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to receive his gold medal, is the subject of a separate inquiry and may be examined by the Judicial Committee at a later stage.
The list of prohibited substances for horses is published on the FEI website www.horsesport.org section veterinary – medication control.
The FEI complete legal procedure for positive medication cases as published in the section legal – legal procedure can be read here.
OLYMPIC CASE HARALD RIEDL/FOXXY XX (AUT):
FULL DECISION OF THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE NOW PUBLISHED
On 2 May 2005, the FEI Judicial Committee published its full decision in the case relating to the findings of prohibited substances in Foxxy XX, ridden by Harald Riedl (AUT) at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
The preliminary decision in that case was published on 17 March (FEI Press News 08/05). The Judicial Committee had decided on the disqualification of the horse and rider from the 2004 Olympic Games and a fine of 1000 Swiss Francs. Harald Riedl was a member of the Austrian Team which finished 13th of the Eventing Olympic competition and placed 58th individually.
Mr Riedl may file an appeal against the decision of the Judicial Committee with the Court of Arbitration of Sports within a period of 30 days (starting on 2 May), in accordance with Art. 170 of the General Regulations of the FEI
The full decision will be published today on the FEI website section Legal/Judicial Committee.
Source: FEI News
Analysis of the urine sample taken from Hachim, conducted by the associate Laboratory of the FEI Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Equine Forensic Unit (UAE), revealed the presence of Methylprednisolone, which is a prohibited substance according to FEI Rules.
A confirmatory analysis was requested by the Person Responsible (PR) and was performed by the FEI approved central laboratory, Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques, France, on 24 March 2005. This analysis confirmed the presence of Methylprednisolone.
However the PR was not duly informed of the date and place of the confirmatory analysis (B Sample) and was therefore unable to send a witnessing analyst to the laboratory, despite having requested the opportunity to be represented.
While noting the existence of two positive results, the Judicial Committee nevertheless decided that the fact that the PR did not have the opportunity to have a witness present at the confirmatory analysis compromised his rights to such an extent that the results had to be disregarded. The Judicial Committee cited several relevant decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in reaching its ruling, which terminates the proceedings.
Consequently, the results of the FEI World Endurance Championship remain unchanged as published on the FEI website. The FEI Secretariat will ensure that HH Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan will receive the Gold medal and all relevant prizes won by him. The Judicial Committee is not ordering a new Official Award Ceremony to be held.
Hachim, ridden by HH Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (UAE) won the FEI World Endurance Championship held in Dubai on 27 January 2005.
Metylprednisolone is an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid acting on the locomotor system and is graded 3 by the Medication Sub-Committee of the FEI. Under the FEI grading system, a substance is graded “1” if it has a relative high potential to affect the performance of the horse and is grade “5” if it has a relative low potential to affect the performance of the horse.
The Official Award Ceremony by the Organising Committee, who did not invite HH Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to receive his gold medal, is the subject of a separate inquiry and may be examined by the Judicial Committee at a later stage.
The list of prohibited substances for horses is published on the FEI website www.horsesport.org section veterinary – medication control.
The FEI complete legal procedure for positive medication cases as published in the section legal – legal procedure can be read here.
OLYMPIC CASE HARALD RIEDL/FOXXY XX (AUT):
FULL DECISION OF THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE NOW PUBLISHED
On 2 May 2005, the FEI Judicial Committee published its full decision in the case relating to the findings of prohibited substances in Foxxy XX, ridden by Harald Riedl (AUT) at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
The preliminary decision in that case was published on 17 March (FEI Press News 08/05). The Judicial Committee had decided on the disqualification of the horse and rider from the 2004 Olympic Games and a fine of 1000 Swiss Francs. Harald Riedl was a member of the Austrian Team which finished 13th of the Eventing Olympic competition and placed 58th individually.
Mr Riedl may file an appeal against the decision of the Judicial Committee with the Court of Arbitration of Sports within a period of 30 days (starting on 2 May), in accordance with Art. 170 of the General Regulations of the FEI
The full decision will be published today on the FEI website section Legal/Judicial Committee.
Source: FEI News
