The doping scandals in the equestrian world are bad enough but now it seems there is a script writer writing a story which goes into the realms of "we can't make this into a soap opera because it is too unbelievable"!

The latest in the saga comes as reports, which have been rumours for over a week, are verified by the FEI in the following media release which informs us that the B Sample from Cian O'Connor's Olympic Gold medal horse, Waterford Crystal has "gone missing" on its way to the testing house.

Again there are many varying stories regarding there where, why and wherefore but somehow it leads to the only conclusion which can be drawn - somebody in the FEI offices have leaked the information to "somebody" regarding the movements of this all important B sample and now it has gone missing under very mysterious circumstances leaving Ireland's Cian O'Connor in the unenviable position of being unable to prove his innocence which will leave doubt in people's minds forever.

Cian's many supporters hoped that the B sample would be one of the reported 1% which comes back different from the original A sample but all chances of that are now gone as the sample has disappeared and even if it were to now reappear it would not be valid as it has been out of the required "hands" and so nobody could prove that it was the same sample - it is useless even if it were to suddenly appear!

The Irish EquestrianFederation President, Avril Doyle, says "there are more questions than answers". Where will all this end - it is not good for our sport but perhaps when the rest of the dramas unfold and things are aired fully the sport will undertake a major change for the better - but there is no doubt that there will be many heads rolling within Federations around the world, starting with the main governing body, the FEI and if I was a betting girl I would suggest that those riders who are using the illegal practices and substances, which have been highlighted in the major daily papers over the past weeks, should be concerned, as the days of "cheating" in showjumping are coming to a close rapidly - it simply won't be accepted any longer.

No doubt the FEI are investigating the problems within the organisation as there have been so many questions of late regarding the notification of positive samples etc. and now this - things are not right and we will bring you further developments as they unfold!

The following is the official statement from the FEI:

UPDATE ON WATERFORD CRYSTAL CASE

The FEI has been informed that on 21 October 2004 a portion of the B-Sample of the horse Waterford Crystal ridden by Cian O'Connor IRL in the 2004 Olympic Games was illegally taken in Cambridge UK.

The sample was being shipped by a third-party courier service from the Medication Control
Programme Central Laboratory in Paris to the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory in Cambridgeshire. The police in Cambridge and Lausanne have been informed and are investigating the case.

An internal FEI investigation is also being undertaken.

The FEI is proceeding with the medication control case ofWaterford Crystal in accordance with the FEI regulations.

Muriel Faienza, FEI Communications
FEDERATION EQUESTRE INTERNATIONALE