More and more bad medication dirt during the HongKong Olympics is surfacing

[freestyle2music]

Lawyers of Christian Ahlman wondered why their client was so heavily damaged by the German Horse Federation, while also the horse Bonaparte of Heike Kemmer was tested positive on doping. Next to this it seems that even more German horses tested positive in HongKong, but according to the German Horse Federation these cases had all to do with normal treatment of the horses due to illness ?!:confused:

What's Next ?

[fiona]

Sorry that's all a bit cryptic for me!
Explain??! what do you mean heavily damaged? Bonaparte doped? I thought he looked great, if thats doped i want some!

[freestyle2music]

Sorry that's all a bit cryptic for me!
Explain??! what do you mean heavily damaged? Bonaparte doped? I thought he looked great, if thats doped i want some!

Ahlmann is thrown out of the German Team, has to pay back the expenses made for HongKong and is the one who don't get any support from the German federation. Bonaparte also seems to have been tested positive for a forbidden substance at HongKong, but is of the hook and supported by the same German federation, which made a statement that the substance found in Bonaparte was because he was threated for a certain illness

In Hongkong werden met deze testen ook het paard van Heike Kemmers en Frank Ostholts positief getest op het gebruik van doping. Volgens beide ruiters waren de paarden allebei onder behandeling van een dierenarts, en ging het over slechts lichte medicatie.

Volgens de directeur van de Duitse Federatie Reinhardt Wendt is het slechts een storm in een glas water: "Het is volkomen normaal dat paarden soms behandeld moeten worden. Bonaparte had een lichte onsteking, Lord Luis had last van mok en Medicott had een kou opgelopen. Dat betekent niet dat we hier gelijk met doping te maken hebben. De middelen zijn gewoon als medicatie gebruikt. In het geval van Christian Ahlmann is er nieteens de vermelde stof aangetroffen.
Een nuloptie in de paardensport is gewoon niet te hanteren. Het wordt tijd dat men hier eens rationeel naar gaat kijken. We hebben hier met dieren te maken", aldus Wendt.

[Coreene]

If they didn't back up Kemmer, they'd lose two medals. And there's your sign.

[Equibrit]

Do they grow sour grapes in Holland?

[freestyle2music]

Do they grow sour grapes in Holland?

This has nothing to do with Holland, this all came out of the German Press.

But you probably don't read German or Dutch :no:



Ahlmann erhebt schwere Vorwürfe gegen FN
Sport, 16.09.2008,, Trackback-URL
Marl (dpa) - Der gesperrte Springreiter Christian Ahlmann und die Besitzerin seines Olympia-Pferdes Cöster haben schwere Vorwürfe gegen die Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung (FN) erhoben.

«Es gab vor den Olympischen Spielen einen positiven Vor-Test, darüber sind wir nicht informiert worden», sagte Ahlmann der Deutschen Presse-Agentur dpa. Insgsamt gab es fünf positive Befunde bei den Untersuchungen im Vorfeld der Wettbewerbe in Hongkong. «Ich war ziemlich überrascht davon. Ich habe das erst aus einer Fachzeitung erfahren», meinte Ahlmann, der derzeit vom Turniersport suspendiert ist, weil bei Cöster während der Olympischen Spiele in Hongkong die verbotene Substanz Capsaicin gefunden worden war. Pferde-Besitzerin Marion Jauss erwägt nach Angaben der «WAZ» rechtliche Schritte gegen die FN.

Der deutsche Mannschafts-Tierarzt Björn Nolting bestätigte die positive Probe bei einem Test vor den Spielen. Er sagte, dass es sich nicht um ein Dopingmittel, sondern um Rückstände einer medizinischen Behandlung des Pferdes gehandelt habe: «Cöster ist nach Absprache mit Christian und seinem Tierarzt behandelt worden. Es war klar, dass ein Rest der Substanz zu finden war.» Es habe sich nicht um Capsaicin gehandelt.

Aber nicht nur bei Cöster gab es bei den Untersuchungen während der Quarantäne in Warendorf einen positiven Befund, sondern auch bei Shutterfly von Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Thedinghausen) sowie bei Lord Luis, dem Pferd des zweiten Ersatzmannes Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst. Bei einem weiteren Vor-Test in Hongkong gab es außerdem positive Werte bei dem Vielseitigkeitspferd Mr. Medicott von Frank Ostholt (Warendorf) und dem Dressurpferd Bonaparte von Heike Kemmer (Winsen).

«Es ist ein ganz normaler Vorgang, dass Pferde behandelt werden», sagte FN-Geschäftsführer Reinhard Wendt. Es seien bei den Vor-Tests genau jene Substanzen gefunden worden, mit denen die Pferde behandelt worden seien. Es habe sich in keinem der fünf Falle um Substanzen von der Dopingliste gehandelt, sondern um Medikamente, die grundsätzlich erlaubt, aber im Wettkampf verboten seien. Diese Unterscheidung zwischen Doping und verbotener Medikation gibt es bei Menschen nicht, sondern nur im Pferdesport.

Dennoch hinterlassen die vom Verband durchgeführten Vor-Tests und vor allem der Umgang damit einen mehr als faden Beigeschmack. Auf Fragen nach den Ergebnissen hatte Nolting der dpa während der Olympischen Spiele in Hongkong gesagt: «Es gab keine Beanstandungen.» Wendt hatte erklärt, dass «es unbedenklich ist».

Ahlmann und Pferde-Besitzern Jauss sind äußerst verärgert über die Geheimniskrämerei. Ahlmann bestätigte, dass seine Mäzenin nun juristisch Schritte gegen die FN prüft. Zudem machte die Besitzerin dem Tierarzt und dem noch bis Ende Dezember amtierenden Bundestrainer Kurt Gravemeier Vorwürfe. «Die haben versagt», wird Jauss in der «WAZ» zitiert.

Nolting bestätigte, dass er Ahlmann über das Ergebnis nicht informiert habe. «Das habe ich immer so gehalten, dass ich das nur intern besprochen habe, unter anderem mit dem Bundestrainer», sagte der Mannschaftstierarzt und verwies auf seinen Vertrag mit dem Verband. Welche Substanz bei Cösters Vor-Test gefunden wurde, dürfe er aufgrund der ärztlichen Schweigepflicht nicht verraten.

[freestyle2music]

Do they grow sour grapes in Holland?

BTW Anky and Painted Black won the GrandPrix in Donaueschingen (Germany) today:cool:

[Equibrit]

This has nothing to do with Holland, this all came out of the German Press.


But they probably aren't enjoying it as much!

[Sunshine06]

Thank you for posting for all of us that live in the US and do read German - keep up the notes like this.:)

[BahamaMama]

This is good for Courtney:yes:

[freestyle2music]

Thank you for posting for all of us that live in the US and do read German - keep up the notes like this.:)


Your wish is my command. I think it's important to notice that it seems that the FEI isn't that harsh to riders and horses who joined the pre-test in Aachen and Hongkong, even if they found something during these tests.

[poltroon]

How come there was no tribunal/press release for Heike Kemmer/Bonaparte from the FEI? Why are they just giving it a pass without that?

[canyonoak]

http://www.sms-pferdenews.de/

Christian Ahlmann has held a second press conference, in which he explains that before leaving for HK, the FN did their own drug tests on all the horses... AND that he, as every other rider, was required to lay out for inspection every single thing he was taking to HK.

And he put out his Equi-Block, along with everything else--and everything was accepted as OK!!!!

AND...the FN and the team vet told NONE of the riders the results of any of their drug tests!!!

This is all getting curiouser and curiouser.

[siegi b.]

canyonoak - I'm with you.... this is turning into a ridiculous story. According to Ahlmann he didn't even know that they found something on the pre-test, something the team vet acknowledges and says he didn't think he needed to tell Ahlmann according to his contract. ?? No wonder Ahlmann's sponsor, who also happens to be an attorney, is suing the FN. What a friggin' mess!!

I guess this is one way to get rid of equestrian sports in the Olympics.....

[cheekyhorse]

that is really too bad. I have a sneaking suspicion we will not be seeing equestrian events at the Olympics in future if this is going to be happening like this.:no:

[Mardi]

What's worse ? this scenario with equestrian sports or the Chinese gymnasts being underaged ? It was proven that they were underaged; at least the horses were all legitimately qualified to be in the Olympics.

For me, the blatant cheating by the Chinese is a bigger issue than the positive drug tests for common equine products.

Equestrian sports will be in London in 2010. Not to worry.

[fiona]

Thanks for the explanations everyone - interesting times. I feel bad for ahlman, it seems he was not well served by his veterinary advisors. I am always concious of what the horses are in contact with but we use lots of basic over the counter creams/washes/supplements that would probably test if put under the scrutiny of HK jockey club!
I'm also paranoid if i'm visiting someone else's stable but now even more so!

edited to add: I got a new laptop and have been watching donaueschingen on live stream. It's been great. PB did a good test and is learning to really sit so that was nice to see. Sylvia Ikle is imho always to be admired and what was was really interesting was seeing Holga Finken in GP. That whole young horse to grand prix thing, not always such an easy transition! he had a few problems to deal with so i'll look forward to seeing that horse again and watching it develop.
Yes, i had the german commentary - dutch i can decipher written to some extent but spoken....no chance!

[kansasgal]

http://www.sms-pferdenews.de/

Christian Ahlmann has held a second press conference, in which he explains that before leaving for HK, the FN did their own drug tests on all the horses... AND that he, as every other rider, was required to lay out for inspection every single thing he was taking to HK.

And he put out his Equi-Block, along with everything else--and everything was accepted as OK!!!!

AND...the FN and the team vet told NONE of the riders the results of any of their drug tests!!!

This is all getting curiouser and curiouser.

OK, hello everyone. Sorry if this is an obvious question that has already been answered somewhere, but I didn't know what Equi-block was, so just learned about it thanks to the wonders of Google.....

The way the product is advertised/ presented I think implies that somehow it is NOT a drug at all. Also implies that is can make a horse pain free in many cases within minutes. (Rolling my eyes.) Also even says in the ifo from the company "Absolutely will not test".... ( of course they don't say in WHAT situation it will not test....)

Is this the stuff that was used on many of the Olympic horses who "tested positive"?

AND were competitors specifically told that the product Equi-Block was a banned substance?

Anyone talking about suing the Equi-Block company for false advertising?


Thanks and best wishes from Kansas.

[ridgeback]

OK, hello everyone. Sorry if this is an obvious question that has already been answered somewhere, but I didn't know what Equi-block was, so just learned about it thanks to the wonders of Google.....

The way the product is advertised/ presented I think implies that somehow it is NOT a drug at all. Also implies that is can make a horse pain free in many cases within minutes. (Rolling my eyes.) Also even says in the ifo from the company "Absolutely will not test".... ( of course they don't say in WHAT situation it will not test....)

Is this the stuff that was used on many of the Olympic horses who "tested positive"?

AND were competitors specifically told that the product Equi-Block was a banned substance?

Anyone talking about suing the Equi-Block company for false advertising?


Thanks and best wishes from Kansas.

It's not false advertising they are talking about USEF testing not testing at the Olympics.

[kansasgal]

It's not false advertising they are talking about USEF testing not testing at the Olympics.

But it doesn't state it in the product information, just says "Absolutely will not test. " Yes. That's the whole sentence.

doesn't state for WHAT federation, more than just US horses and riders have gotten into trouble for the use of this product.

Anyone else have any additional info to share?

Thanks in advance.

[ridgeback]

But it doesn't state it in the product information, just says "Absolutely will not test. " Yes. That's the whole sentence.

doesn't state for WHAT federation, more than just US horses and riders have gotten into trouble for the use of this product.

Anyone else have any additional info to share?

Thanks in advance.

They are an American company and aren't going to put on their label may test every 4 years or may test in other countries. Although it sounds like it is used in other countries during normal competition and it doesn't test?

[ridgeback]

BTW Anky and Painted Black won the GrandPrix in Donaueschingen (Germany) today:cool:

I wonder why Isabelle Werth wasn't there??

[Kementari]

The stuff doesn't make a secret of the fact that it contains capsaicin - which is - oh right! - ILLEGAL under both USEF and FEI rules. It doesn't matter if it "won't test," the fact is if you USE it you are breaking the rules. And if you're too dumb to read the ingredients (there aren't even that many of them), you deserve what you get. Unfortunately.

[poltroon]

The stuff doesn't make a secret of the fact that it contains capsaicin - which is - oh right! - ILLEGAL under both USEF and FEI rules. It doesn't matter if it "won't test," the fact is if you USE it you are breaking the rules. And if you're too dumb to read the ingredients (there aren't even that many of them), you deserve what you get. Unfortunately.

I don't think it's obvious that it's illegal under FEI rules, and the competitors had been using it for a long time with no positives. I think it would be easy to pick it up and not think of it as any kind of medication or drug. Capsaicin is a food ingredient.

It is explicitly illegal under USEF guidelines, but I don't imagine that riders from other countries make a habit of browsing that list.

[ridgeback]

I don't think it's obvious that it's illegal under FEI rules, and the competitors had been using it for a long time with no positives. I think it would be easy to pick it up and not think of it as any kind of medication or drug. Capsaicin is a food ingredient.

It is explicitly illegal under USEF guidelines, but I don't imagine that riders from other countries make a habit of browsing that list.

Well I know you are allowed to use Surpass and Equi Block at hunter jumper shows but I think it has to be a certain time before they go in the ring... Hunter/Jumper people medicate all the time with stuff as long as it's 12 hours before they go in the ring so I think the testing for USEF is different then FEI or the olympic games.

[fiona]

I wonder why Isabelle Werth wasn't there??

Because presumably Satchmo is on holiday like most of the Olympic horses and Warum Nicht was on the winning Nations Cup team in Mondorf le Bains last weekend? She likes to "meet and compete" but can't possibly make every show - Europe may look small on the map to you guys but we have hills, borders and stuff!:lol:

[ridgeback]

Because presumably Satchmo is on holiday like most of the Olympic horses and Warum Nicht was on the winning Nations Cup team in Mondorf le Bains last weekend? She likes to "meet and compete" but can't possibly make every show - Europe may look small on the map to you guys but we have hills, borders and stuff!:lol:

What you have hills???:lol::lol:;)

[Kementari]

Surpass is completely different to Equi Block. Surpass is allowed as a therapeutic substance under USEF rules (so long as you follow time and dose guidelines). Capsaicin (and thereby Equi Block) is NOT. Now, it may be that Equi Block doesn't test (yet) at USEF shows because not enough capsaicin is reaching the bloodstream - but it is STILL against the rules to be using it. I find it astounding that given all the things people should worry about that are illegal that are not specifically listed in the D&M pamphlet, so many can't even manage to keep track of the ones that ARE listed.

Yes, USEF and FEI rules are different. FEI allows basically NOTHING. And I surely think these peoples' NFs let them down if they did indeed know that these drugs were being used and didn't say anything. But ultimately, it's up to the rider to know and follow the rules. If I'm not sure about something, I (me, personally) get ahold of USEF with an ingredient list and double check. If I do that at MY level (lowest of the low! :lol:), then I sure as hell hope a freakin' OLYMPIAN could handle the task (though with the FEI, of course, not USEF).

And, honestly, everyone (competing at that level) at least SHOULD know that the FEI doesn't allow squat. And it shouldn't be that big a leap to work out that you ought to be really, REALLY concerned about giving your horse ANY product that claims to reduce/relieve pain. This is not the first time these issues have arisen (though it certainly involves the most people). :no:

[canyonoak]

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/27/1032734328641.html

<< ...Of the 10,300 athletes who competed at the Games, 2758 underwent testing, a process that uncovered 11 positive results.

But the information on the forms about the "legal" substances taken in the preceding days gives an important snapshot of the life of an elite athlete.



Substances of choice

What 2758 athletes took three in days before the Olympics.

Multivitamins - 1116

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories - 860

Vitamin C - 450

Creatine - 316

Asthma drugs - 279

Multiminerals - 253

Contraceptive pill - 240

Amino acids - 190

Analgesics - 187

Iron - 177

Nose drops - 146

Vitamin E - 143

Antibiotics - 130

Magnesium - 127

Vitamin B - 125

Sedatives and hypnotics - 116

Cough and cold preparations - 108

Gastro-intestinal drugs - 103

Ginseng - 95

Inosine - 87

Antihistamines - 84

CoQ10 - 79

Arginine - 78

Calcium - 72

Zinc - 70

Echinacea - 67

Carnitine - 63

Local anaesthetics - 54 >>

These are the HUMAN athletes at Beijing, SFAIK.

Which means that horse sport did NOT provide half the positives as has been reported.

And the HK drug tests also needs to be put into perspective, as even the FEI Tribunal has started calling ALL of these cases 'medication cases' rather than drug offenses.

It's fine to talk about zero tolerance, and yes I too can comprehend 'the slippery slope' of allowing any amount of certain substances, but the reality of performance sport in today's world requires a view based on that reality, not a well=meaning theory.

[ridgeback]

Because presumably Satchmo is on holiday like most of the Olympic horses and Warum Nicht was on the winning Nations Cup team in Mondorf le Bains last weekend? She likes to "meet and compete" but can't possibly make every show - Europe may look small on the map to you guys but we have hills, borders and stuff!:lol:

I guess she is there...CDI Donaueschingen: Werth Wins Medien Cup Warm Up

Isabell Werth and her Florestan offspring First Class won the warm up class of the 2008 Medien Cup Finals at the CDI Donaueschingen in Germany. She scored 71.10% and led with a small margin to Oliver Luze on Tannenhof's Carabas.

[Equibrit]

I wonder why Isabelle Werth wasn't there??

She was, but doing the Media Cup for young horses, which she won.
http://www.mediencup.com/en/home.php

[MEP]

She was, but doing the Media Cup for young horses, which she won.
http://www.mediencup.com/en/home.php

Actually, she won the warm-up class - Oliver Luze won the final today :D

[siegi b.]

I wasn't going to bring this up, but then oakie sort of forced my hand by listing all the different substances.....

So why don't they have the same kind of testing for the judges? Let's see... can they do it without Advil, Allegra, Tylenol, et al????? :-)

Just a thought...... :-)
Actually, some of the testing is just as ridiculous as my question, I think.....

[hum]

So why don't they have the same kind of testing for the judges? Let's see... can they do it without Advil, Allegra, Tylenol, et al????? :-)

.


Schnapps, kirschwasser, Long Island ice tea....oh, forgot...those are not illegal heh heh.

[canyonoak]

NSAIDs are NOT illegal for human athletes:

<< Substances of choice...

What 2758 athletes took in the three days before the Olympics...

...Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories - 860 >>

It is the horses that have everything under the sun at zero tolerance. Not their riders, not the other human athletes.

[hum]

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/27/1032734328641.html

It's fine to talk about zero tolerance, and yes I too can comprehend 'the slippery slope' of allowing any amount of certain substances, but the reality of performance sport in today's world requires a view based on that reality, not a well=meaning theory.





Nearly every competitive rider would agree. Now let's tell the FEI that. :lol:

[MEP]

Nearly every competitive rider would agree. Now let's tell the FEI that. :lol:

This is what I wonder about - aren't most of the riders sick of these fiascos? And the owners, and the national federations???

There are reasonable restrictions and procedures to detect drug abuse which I'm sure the vast majority of interested parties could agree upon - but then there's what we have now: Take it to such ridiculous extremes so that the most insignificant actions can have far reaching effects: Let's make it impossible to bathe (you might have tainted shampoo), or do common sense horse care (put ointment on a rub), and who knows what else will get you busted unnecessarily???

I said at the time of the Athens Olympics when Germany lost the Gold medal because Ludger Beerbaum put ointment on a rub that it was wrong. I want the U.S. (or any other nation/person) to win medals because they earned them, not because someone broke a rule that shouldn't have been there in the first place.

I don't know. I would like to see some kind of organized movement to begin dialogue at least about changing these impossible rules and coming up with something that employs some real horsemanship. Arrrrgh :(

[hsheffield]

I was told that Mythilus tested positive for 4 nanograms/cc of felbinac and that the therapeutic dose is around 150,000 nanograms/cc.

I'm not familiar with this med but surely this is not an amount that would change the outcome of the Olympics. Regardless, the FEI seems hellbent on zero tolerance and I'm afraid I think they will suspend her regardless of common sense. They'll probably have to make some sort of token suspension to make their point, maybe a couple of months.

I just hope Courtney can keep her spirits up through all of this. I would think it would feel terrible to have worked so hard to be derailed by something as illogical as this.

Please hang in there Courtney! Most of us out here know you were wronged.

[Sabine]

I was told that Mythilus tested positive for 4 nanograms/cc of felbinac and that the therapeutic dose is around 150,000 nanograms/cc.

I'm not familiar with this med but surely this is not an amount that would change the outcome of the Olympics. Regardless, the FEI seems hellbent on zero tolerance and I'm afraid I think they will suspend her regardless of common sense. They'll probably have to make some sort of token suspension to make their point, maybe a couple of months.

I just hope Courtney can keep her spirits up through all of this. I would think it would feel terrible to have worked so hard to be derailed by something as illogical as this.

Please hang in there Courtney! Most of us out here know you were wronged.

While I agree in concept with your statement- I have to clearly state that Courtney King-Dye- has arrived!!!
In Europe and in the world. She is a very beautiful rider and a pleasure to watch - and many that might have heard her name saw her rides and she left a mark that can not be expunged.
Although this drug bit- is a major PIA and will only make lawyers rich- which in itself is ridiculous- I believe Courtney will come away unscathed and be a big player in the future. She is the product of a great teacher and she is 'all American' and that's something to be really proud of. I hope and believe she will have a great future as american competitive rider- if she wants to continue down that road.

[hsheffield]

hey there Sabine:

no argument at all that Courtney has arrived!!

I hope she can keep her spirits up through all of this. I could see how the seemingly arbitrary nature of this positive drug testing could get to a hard working soul like hers.


I also hope she reads these boards and knows that she has a lot of support our here.

[poltroon]

The tribunal has decided; Courtney is disqualified and the US loses its 4th place. Courtney gets a month suspension which ended yesterday.

http://www.fei.org/Media/News_Centre/News/Pages/summ.aspx?newsName=olmypicnews_mythilus_decision.a spx

The Tribunal did not accept the PR's argument that the exception contained in Equine Anti Doping and Medication Control Rules ("EADMCR") Article 2.1.3 to a medication rule violation in case of an environmental contamination should apply, since Felbinac did not appear on the Equine Prohibited List as a threshold substance and no specific criteria was established for it on such List as a contaminant.


The Tribunal repeated its stand that the FEI policy in regard to doping and medication does not only intend to ensure a level playing field but has the additional policy consideration of ensuring that the welfare of the horse is maintained and that horses compete only when they are physically fit and capable of competing. This requires doping and medication rule violations to be strict liability or no fault offences. The PR's arguments that she had gained no competitive advantage and that the findings did not constitute any maltreatment of the horse, due to the nature of the substance and the minimal concentration detected, were therefore not relevant.


The Tribunal accepted the FEI's position that, under the clear language of EADMCR Article 10.5, in order for the PR to prove that she bears no fault and no negligence and that the sanctions should be eliminated, she must demonstrate how the substance entered the horse's systems. While elaborate, the explanations furnished by the PR were only speculations.

As a result of the foregoing, the horse and the PR are disqualified from the Games and all medals, points and prize money won at the Olympic Games by them are forfeited. Such disqualification is automatic and is not considered a sanction; rather it is an automatic mechanism used to ensure a level playing field.


As a result, the US Dressage Team with its reaming two competitors is also disqualified and loses its 4th place. The Tribunal did not accept the arguments of the USEF that the resulting disqualification of its Team, when the sampling was carried days after the end of the Team competition, is a "sanction" which is inappropriate in this case and should not be imposed. The Tribunal noted that the resulting disqualification was automatic.

In regard to sanctions, the Tribunal considered the fact that the PR is an experienced sportswoman and that the behaviour of anyone at the top of the sport and particularly at the Olympic Games must be faultless since the eyes of the world focus on performances at such events.


On the other hand, the Tribunal found the evidence of the PR and the US Dressage Team Vet to be credible and believed that neither the PR nor anyone on her behalf or related to the USEF had knowingly administered the medication to the horse. The Tribunal further accepted the PR's and USEF's arguments that they have done almost everything in their power to ensure that no rule violation shall occur. The Tribunal also considered the type of Medication A substance involved and its therapeutic applications, the fact that the same substance may not be considered as a doping substance, the specific circumstances relating to the horse's hospitalisation in Hong Kong and the possibility of contamination, the excellent stable management practiced by the US team and measures placed to try and ensure the no horse with prohibited substances participates at the Olympic Games, the efforts made by the PR and the USEF to determine the source of the positive finding, the impeccable record and reputation of the PR, the PR’s cooperation in the investigation and the hardship already caused to the PR including the fact that the US Dressage Team has already lost its 4th place at the Olympic Games.

As a consequence, the Tribunal imposed on the PR a one month suspension, which has commenced on the date of the application of the provisional suspension and ended on 21 September 2008, fine and costs.

I would say this is very bad for the outlook for the jumpers.

And I'm glad that Brentina had a bad day and there's no medal involved.

[Ginger]

Could Courtney be a late entry for Devon? I am sure they would welcome her with open arms if she were so inclined.

[Spoilsport]

Could Courtney be a late entry for Devon?


She doesn't have to be a "late" entry. She's always been on the show roster. If she does compete, I wonder if the timing of the decision was totally coincidental.

[deserthunter]

I just got an email saying that the final results were guilty on the Hong Kong doping charge. Did anyone else get this? Is this a random spam email? Humm..... love to hear from anyone else.

[MEP]

The FEI statement speaks about "level playing fields" but I do NOT see where a trace (non-therapeutic) amount of a NSAID (Courtney) or the amount of medication from an ointment (Ludger) had any effect on the playing field whatsoever.

If level playing fields are the overall goal for all Olympic sports, then why are certain amounts of NSAIDs allowed for human athletes as pointed out by Canyonoak above. I'm going to say it again, ARRRGH :no:

I should think that the International riders' organizations and ALL the national federations need to band together to pressure the FEI to change this draconian and self-destructive policy.

Furthermore, the contortions the committee has gone through in this statement, on the one hand they don't buy Courtney's 'speculative' explanation for the presence of the drug, but on the other hand they feel that Courtney and the US team vets did everything possible to avoid any contamination is simply bizarre. Then they punish Courtney and the USET by automatic disqualification and forfeiting the team placing, but end the suspension period today. Again, it's exactly what they did to Ludger Beerbaum, and it's sooo very wrong. One word: AAAARRRRRRGGGHHHH :mad:

[poltroon]

The FEI statement speaks about "level playing fields" but I do NOT see where a trace (non-therapeutic) amount of a NSAID (Courtney) or the amount of medication from an ointment (Ludger) had any effect on the playing field whatsoever.

Nor do I see how it hurt the horse. If anything, I would feel that the atrial fibrulation incident itself would've been more of a question as to the horse being fit to compete than the trace of NSAID, even if no drugs were found in his system. The idea that it's the NSAID trace that makes it questionable for the horse's welfare is just bizarre.

[freestyle2music]

Nor do I see how it hurt the horse. If anything, I would feel that the atrial fibrulation incident itself would've been more of a question as to the horse being fit to compete than the trace of NSAID, even if no drugs were found in his system. The idea that it's the NSAID trace that makes it questionable for the horse's welfare is just bizarre.

Poltroon

Maybee you should post this as a seperate topic.

And didn't I predict already how the press would handle this :

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OLY_US_EQUESTRIAN_DISQUALIFIED?SITE=WIMIL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Theo

[ridgeback]

Poltroon

Maybee you should post this as a seperate topic.

And didn't I predict already how the press would handle this :

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OLY_US_EQUESTRIAN_DISQUALIFIED?SITE=WIMIL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Theo

Boy you need stroked don't you Theo...Thank you Poltoon for posting the info on Courtney's case...It will all be forgotten soon and Courtney will be back on top:D

[poltroon]

Oh, that story from the AP is terrible. Way to be lazy, guys. They couldn't even read to the bottom of the FEI press release?

[MEP]

...It will all be forgotten soon and Courtney will be back on top:D

I think I know what you mean here: that Courtney did nothing wrong and this should not, and will not, tarnish her reputation.

But I strongly feel the whole incident should vehemently not be forgotten, because it's just going to happen again, to someone else. At Athens, Ludger Beerbaum and his national federation just took it on the chin, no-one did anything, and as a result four years later we have Courtney's case. Look at the AP story. These cases are bad for the athletes, bad for the national federations, bad for the sport as a whole, and make the FEI look ridiculous. (I know some of you already think the FEI is ridiculous, but it sure makes it clear to the rest of us that they're shooting the sport in the foot whenever they have the opportunity.) :mad:

[Equibrit]

I see nothing dramatic about the way AP have reported the incident. They have stated a few facts on a subject the public knows very little about and cares less. Anybody who matters or takes an interest knows these and further facts. No harm done.

H&H report; http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/268332.html

[ridgeback]

I think I know what you mean here: that Courtney did nothing wrong and this should not, and will not, tarnish her reputation.



That is exactly what I meant:D:yes:

[grayarabpony]

Do they grow sour grapes in Holland?

Apparently so. :lol:

[pwynnnorman]

Blast. It even got a full 45 seconds of coverage on MSNBC this morning.

[mazu]

Blast. It even got a full 45 seconds of coverage on MSNBC this morning.

I saw that too, pwynn.

The guy seemed incredulous that a horse would be the one to test positive for a drug ... I suppose it could have been presented much worse. But still sad that the most dressage coverage one can hope to get on basic cable, is on a positive drug test.

Condolences to Courtney and her team. They don't deserve this, they really don't.