As the equestrian world struggles to come to term with the most recent doping scandal involving 5 time Dressage Olympic Gold medalist, the news is now to hand regarding the penatlies meted out to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai who is a very sucessful and highly competitive Endurance rider.

The Sheikh is the husband of the FEI President, Princess Haya who has been actively working to stamp out the doping of horses in FEI disciplines, and this must have come as a great shock to her.

The Princess stepped down from any decision making in this case.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as been banned from endurance racing for 6 months as a result of his horse, Tahhan, testing positive to a hypertension drug and the steroid Stanozol.

The Ruler of Dubai has been ordered to pay CHF4,500 which includes his fines and also legal costs.

The trainer of the Sheikh's horses, Abdullah bin Huzaim, admitted to administering the drugs on two occasions prior to the deser races in Bahrain and Dubai and he has been handed a 12 month ban, even though the rider is considered the Person Responsible in any medication cases.

The FEI rules also acount for suport personel to be held accountable.

IN this circumstance the horse was randomly selected for testing at both races and also in routine testing at the stables which house some of the Sheikh's rides.

Guanabenz and Hydroxy-Stanozol were both found in the horse on all occasions. The Sheikh has been co-operating with the FEI since the news came through that his horse had tested positive and has been actively looking for the person responsible for administering the banned substances.

April 6th saw the Sheikh notified of his provisional supsension and he declined a preliminary hearing and also declined the testing of the B Sample.

April 21st saw the FEI receive a written explanation of the situation in which he explained that he is an amateur rider, who rides for many different stables and is offered a choice of horse on the day of each race.

The Sheikh submitted that he has interests in close to 700 horses who regularly compete in the sport of endurance racing and he is not involved in the day to day management of these horses and so relies heavily on the trainer and vets to present horses that are "fit to ride and which are not in breach of the rules and regulations of the FEI".

It was submitted, to the FEI Tribunal, that on the day of the races in question the Sheikh had asked whether all was well with the horse and that he was "assured that all was in order".

The Sheikh continued saying: "Referring to the statement of the trainer, Mr Abdullah bin Huzaim, the person responsible submits that Mr Abdullah bin Huzaim caused the prohibited substances to be administered without his knowledge, and that if he had had such knowledge, he would not have ridden the horse."

Abdullah bin Huzaim was then questioned by the FEI Tribunal and he admitted that substances had been administered to the horse without the knowledge of the Sheikh, by the vet, under his own direction.

The tribunal then issued the following in the case:

"No evidence was submitted indicating that the person responsible had given strict written or other instructions to the stable staff to ensure that no prohibited substances were administered to any horse that was likely to compete in international competitions.

The tribunal has repeatedly expressed the view that it is the responsibility of competitors to inform themselves of all substances administered to horses which are destined for participation in international events and to ensure that such horses do not have any prohibited substances in their systems.

Generally, therefore, the tribunal is of the opinion that competitors are responsible for what their staff provides to the horses and whatever treatments it administers to them. However, the tribunal also recognises that the application of this rule can be different when it comes to persons responsible with high social and governmental status.

While the Tribunal would not expect the person responsible in this case to be personally working in the stables, the tribunal does expect him to take a senior level of responsibility to enforce stable management that demonstrates respect for the applicable rules and horse welfare.

Put more simply, as a person of high government status executes his governmental role from a position of authority and effective delegation, the same principle should apply to stable management.
"Further, the tribunal would expect evidence of excellent stable management to be submitted in such cases so that the tribunal can be comforted that the stables are being properly and effectively supervised so as to ensure a high likelihood of compliance with FEI Rules.

No such evidence was submitted in this case.

Accordingly, the tribunal finds that the person responsible has acted negligently in performing his duties as competitor and person responsible, given that a trainer was permitted to cause the administration of prohibited substances without his knowledge.

The strict responsibility of the person responsible is necessary in the fight against doping and to protect the principles of fair play and promotion of equal conditions in the conduct of international events, as well as with regard to horse welfare.

Nevertheless the tribunal appreciates the fact that the person responsible co-operated with the FEI and initiated an investigation which revealed that the trainer had caused the administration of the prohibited substances to the horse."

The Tribunal found the charges against the Person Responsible proven and also against the Trainer.

So we now have a list the length of a tall man's arm of showjumpers who have returned positive tests - add to that the recent shock of Isabel Werth's positive return - and now we have the positive return from the sport of Endurance racing.

Do we need to brace ourselves now for positive results from Eventing, Carriage Driving, Vaulting, Para, Reining and Youth?

Or will the riders, as the Persons Responsible stop this happening?

The time has come to stop the excuses and at times lame excuses and decisions have to be made as to what is right and reasonable for horses in competition.

Many are calling for a break with the current situation of zero tolerance - and the riders are calling for defnitive lists of banned substances so that they can know what can and cannot be used.

The riders believe that the current system is far too sloppy to be taken seriously - wheras many consider that zero tolerance should be just that - and if the riders, as the person responsible, are concerned about with holding periods that they should perhaps consider leaving the horse at home!

If this issue is not brought to proper order very quickly now, we may well be walking out precious sport into the hands of professional do-gooders who want to see all horse sport activities banned permanently - this will affect all those involved in equestrian sport as hobbyists, amateurs or professionals.

The following link takes you to see what the Australian RSPCA is currently putting out into the market place - we need to immediately consider what we are doing......and clean up the sport as a matter of great urgency. Click here for the RSPCA link.

As the final leg of the Mydan/FEI Nations Cup series moves to Dublin, Ireland on Friday we can only hope there will be no further nasty surprises and the same must be said for the Dressage and Showjumping European Championships to be held in England at the end of this month.