In a shock announcement today the FEI have announced that 4 horses have tested positive to banned substances at Athens Olympics in August this year.
Irish hero, Cian O'Connor who rode to the Olymic Gold medal in showjumping is one of the four horses tested positive after producing a brilliant clear round to clinch the medal - Ireland's only Olympic medal in 2004 and their only ever Equestrian gold medal.
Of the 200 horses participating in the equestrian disciplines 40 were tested and four tested positive, pending confirmation of the analysis.
The decision to release the names of those who test positive rests with the National Federations and both the Irish and German Federations have named their riders - there is no news at this stage from the remaining positive test so one assumes their federation have opted to not leave their rider having to "prove their innocence" before the final results are in.
For Germany, things have gone from bad to worse with Bettina Hoy, pictured left, and Ringwood Cockatoo losing the eventing Gold medal and now having her horse test positive and Ludger Beerbaum, pictured below right, and Gold Fever also testing positive - there is no news of who the fourth horse is, at this stage.
At the time of going to air there is also no news regarding what prohibited substances have been found in the German horses results.
On hearing the news Cian said "I am devestated at the news. 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 am fully aware of the FEI rules, and I know that I must take responsibility for any medication administered to my horse. I absolutely believe no performance-enhancing drugs were given to the horse."
Cian has stated that Waterford Crystal did incurr a "minor fetlock injury" on July 22nd and l He has, however, given details to the FEI of an incident in late July which could have a bearing on the matter. Waterford Crystal incurred a minor fetlock injury on the 22 July, and hydrotherapy treatment was advised. Treating vet, Mr James Sherrin prescribed a mild sedative for this procedure to ensure that the horse did not damage himself during the treatment.
The drug, O'Connor's vet Mr James Sheeran explained, would disperse within 14 days and would not, in any case, influence the horse's performance. "From all of my research I cannot understand how the medication prescribed by me, found in the A sample, could still be present in the horse's system over a month later.
In conclusion James Sherrin said "Any residue that may have existed in the horse's system at the time of the Olympic Games would certainly have no therapeutic influence, good or bad."
In the media release from the FEI today they state the four riders, known as the "Persons Responsible, PR, for the horses testing positive, have ten days to request a confirmatory analysis (B Sample) of the initial analysis (A Sample) and to request an oral hearing from the FEI committee.
The FEI media release goes on to say that if the B sample is positive then the Person Responsible must provide an explanation of the presence of the banned substance.If the Person Responsible does not request confirmatory analysis, then the Person Responsible must submit a written explanation as to how the banned substance came to be in his/her horse's system or request an oral hearing before the FEI judicial committee.
The media release continues to explain - a complete case file is compiled and the FEI Judicial Committee reaches a decision on each case. The Person Responsible has 30 days following the announcement of the decision in which to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The media release concludes by saying "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." - which in "real speak" means that the IOC may decide to remove Cian O'Connors Gold medal which would surely see the Athens Olympic Games being remembered as the most controversial Games for the Equestrian sports, with the Eventing medals being tossed backwards and forwards and now the possibility of the showjumping medals changing as well.
If Cian loses his Gold medal then that would move Rodrigo Pessoa into Gold position, Chris Kappler into Silver for the USA and Marco Kutscher for German into Bronze - remembering that it was a very sad day for Chris Kappler when his horse suffered a tendon injury during the jump off and he stated that he would "rather be his horse than at the medal presentation!"
And one would have to wonder, if Ludger Beerbaum is found guilty of using prohibited substances, will this effect the Team Gold medal of Germany's.
Time will tell what the outcome will be - the riders and officials in Ireland are in shock this evening at the news - we will keep you posted when news comes to hand.
