Four Horses Test Positive from Olympic Games

The FEI today announces the results of the medication controls for the horses sampled during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Forty horses were sampled (20% of the participating horses), and 4 test results were positive pending any confirmatory analyses.

Included in this group are Ludger Beerbaum's Goldfever (GER), Bettina Hoy's Ringwood Cockatoo (GER) and Cian O'Connor's Waterford Crystal (IRL).

The Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) issued this statement from Cian O'Connor, who won Ireland's first Olympic Gold Medal in Showjumping: " '' I am utterly devastated that the Sample 'A' taken from my horse at the Games has tested positive. That notion amounts to cheating, and I am not a cheat. I plan to have the 'B' sample tested as soon as possible and to proceed from there with the FEI. I believe that I won this medal fair and square and that the horse has not been given anything that would make him jump better.

''I wish to assure everyone that I have competed honestly and honorably both for myself and my country. It is particularly important to me that those who have supported me, including my family, my sponsors, the SJAI and the EFI, know and accept this. I am fully aware of the FEI rules, and I know that I must take responsibility for any medication administered to my horse. I am very professional, and take everything extremely seriously, both veterinary matters and the stable management at this level of competition.

''I absolutely believe that no performance-enhancing drugs were given to the horse.

''I must wait until the 'B' sample is analysed before I can make a detailed case to the authorities, and until this process is concluded, any further comment from me may be unhelpful to my case. In the light of the support given to me by the people of Ireland, it is my duty to inform them of my situation, and therefore I have postponed my Olympic engagements until this matter has been resolved.''

Mr. O'Connor had informed the EFI that on July 22, 2004, before the Olympic Games, his horse Waterford Crystal had incurred a mild fetlock injury, and after assessment, his vet, Mr. James Sheeran MVB MRCVS, had advised hydrotherapy treatment, which involves confinement in an enclosed hydrotherapy unit.

Since the horse was in peak fitness, it was feared that he may injure himself during the treatment, so the veterinary surgeon prescribed mild sedation. The sedative, therefore, was essential, in Mr. Sheeran's opinion, to prevent any further injury, and was given to aid the welfare of the horse, and in no way to enhance its performance.

Mr. O'Connor was told by his vet that the sedative drug would disperse from the horse's system within ten to 14 days, and was not in any case a factor that would influence performance.

Goldfever, who under Ludger Beerbaum helped Germany win team Gold in the showjumping competition, was treated during the Olympics for an abrasion on his leg. The ointment contained the substance Betamethason. Because the injury was treated by Germany's team veterinarian, Beerbaum was not concerned. However it appears that the treatment was cleared by the official Athens veterinarian team. 

Bettina Hoy's Ringwood Cockatoo, who competed for Germany in the eventing competitions, was treated for a swelling in the saddle area with a Benadryl lotion.

The procedure for processing these positive medication cases for horses is as follows; however, it is FEI practice to grant continuances when requested and cases may therefore take longer to process:

Samples taken from horses participating in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens were sent to the FEI Central MCP Laboratory in Paris (FRA) for analysis. Standard process time is 1-3 days via courier service; these samples were received at the laboratory within 1-3 days.

The positive cases were forwarded to the FEI Legal Department by the FEI Veterinary Department. Standard process time is approximately 1 month from time of sampling, lab results, approval by FEI Medication Sub-Committee, chain of custody control by FEI Veterinary Department; these cases have taken just over one month.

The Persons Responsible (PR) for the horses have been notified of the positive results via their National Federation (NF). Standard process time is approximately 1-10 days; these cases have taken 5 days.

The PRs will have ten days from notification of their test results to request a confirmatory analysis (B-sample) of the initial analysis (A-sample) and to request an oral hearing before the FEI Judicial Committee.

If a PR does not require a confirmatory analysis, he/she must supply a written explanation as to how his/her horse tested positive or to request the oral hearing within ten days after notification of the results.

If a PR requires a confirmatory analysis, the tests will be run again on the split portion of the sample - the B-sample. The laboratory must begin the testing within 21 days of the request by the FEI Legal Department (standard testing time is approximately 1-3 weeks depending on the complexity of the substance(s)).

The PR will be informed of the B-sample results and if positive must provide an explanation as to how the horse tested positive within ten days of notification of these results (standard process time approx. 1-10 days).

Once the FEI Legal Department has the explanation from the PR it will compile a complete case file which will be submitted to the FEI Judicial Committee for their decision (standard process time approx. 1-10 days).

The PR may alternatively request an oral hearing before the FEI Judicial Committee which would normally be held during the next scheduled meeting but may be arranged at an earlier date if necessary. The PR would normally be notified at the meeting of the decision (approx. 15 days  3 months).

The majority of positive medication cases are reviewed and decided by the FEI Judicial Committee by correspondence. Each case is distributed to an investigating member of the FEI Judicial Committee who is responsible for proposing a decision. The proposed decision is circulated to the other members for their approval (5-10 days). The FEI Legal Department informs the PR of the FEI Judicial Committees decision via his/her NF (approx. 1-10 days).

The PR has 30 days to appeal the FEI Judicial Committees decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Following the decision of the FEI Judicial Committee, the FEI may decide to review the results of the Olympic competitions concerned and inform the IOC accordingly.

The FEI 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 is published in the section legal  legal procedure.