Editors Note: I have been in touch with the EFA over the past days and I would say that Franz Venhaus has been very prompt in his return mail and for this I thank him.

There are several points in his official release however which, in fact, do little to alleviate people's concerns that something untoward has occured in Australian showjumping. I am currently researching these issues and as soon as I in receipt of all the facts I will publish them for all to see. I will howvever not add to the raging bushing fire with innuendo and personal opinion.

Today has brought yet another email from the anonymous source who first brought this issue to the attention of many in Australia and overseas and who is obviously passionate about her/his sport and concerned at what he/she sees as gross injustice and raises further questions. These questions are not unique to the author and are ones which concern all involved in our sport.

I have been working on getting answers to these questions since some time prior to that first email and will continue to work on this - the answers will not come quickly or easily of that I can assure everyone but it will not be let lie.

If the EFA have acted in total accordance with all protocol then I can assure them that I will be the first to publically congratulate them for their actions - if another agency is found to have not acted in accordance with protocol I will also publish this - what I will NOT be party to is a witch hunt which is devoid of facts.

Having said this - there is one discrepency in the above official statement which may or may not have a major significance at some stage but it is one which can be pointed out now as it is a "fact".

In the official statement below, Mr Venhaus states "On 18 August 2004 (effectively 19 August due to time zone differences; Day 6 of the Athens Olympic Games), the FEI advised the EFA National Office in Sydney by facsimile that the A-sample taken on 18 June 2004 from the horse Mr. Innocent (“Person Responsible”: Tim Amitrano) during the Rotterdam CSIO had tested positive to prohibited substances."

In fact the time differences allowed more time than suggested to make changes or withdraw the said rider than Mr Venhaus suggests as if it is, for example 4.30pm in Sydney on the 18th August then it is in actual fact midnight of the PREVIOUS evening in Athens and not the following day as stated by Mr Venhaus - this may or may not prove to be significant at some stage.

If anyone wishes to email me with opinions or information please feel free to do so by clicking here - please state on your email whether you permit publication of its contents, in part or full - all requests for privacy will be honoured but anonymous mail will be deleted and ignored - I understand that many people, whether rightly or wrongly fear retribution for themselves or family members but privacy is guaranteed and honoured by this publication.

On Monday morning, 11 October 2004, we received a widely-circulated e-mail from a person of as yet unconfirmed identity, making a series of allegations and accusations concerning the Federation in connection with a positive swab.

It is EFA and FEI policy not to publicly disclose details of alleged anti-doping or medication control infractions before the judicial process has been completed. This is, however, a high-profile case and it is a fact that the identity of the horse/rider combination involved is already widely known. To make a statement without mentioning names does not seem to make much sense.

The sequence of events has been as follows:

On 18 August 2004 (effectively 19 August due to time zone differences; Day 6 of the Athens Olympic Games), the FEI advised the EFA National Office in Sydney by facsimile that the A-sample taken on 18 June 2004 from the horse Mr. Innocent (“Person Responsible”: Tim Amitrano) during the Rotterdam CSIO had tested positive to prohibited substances.

The EFA advised the “Person Responsible” in Athens on 19 August 2004 and also advised the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) of the report. The AOC was at the time officially in charge of horses and riders as part of the Australian delegation to the Games. The AOC allowed the combination to compete.

Within the period of 10 days provided for in FEI Veterinary Regulations, the “Person Responsible” made a request to the FEI for a confirmatory analysis of the B-sample to be carried out. He also submitted a statement to the FEI Judicial Committee.

So far, the FEI has not advised the results of the B-sample confirmatory analysis. In fact, we have been told that the FEI has not as yet received the results.

Any rider accused of an anti-doping infraction is allowed to continue competing until the respective judicial authority, in this case the FEI Judicial Committee, has considered all evidence presented to it and has taken a decision on the case which may include a suspension, and the period to lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport has expired or been waived by the rider.

Franz Venhaus
Chief Executive Officer