Swiss rider Steve Guerdat, the reigning Olympic individual gold medalist and FEI World Cup Final winner, participated in a preliminary hearing with Fédération Equestre Internationale officials via phone. Guerdat was provisionally suspended from the FEI on July 22 after two of his horses tested positive for banned and controlled substances.

Guerdat, his lawyers, Giuseppe Bianchi and Dr. Eleonora Ottaviani, , the Swiss Equestrian Federation veterinarian Dr. Marco Hermann and Guerdat’s veterinarian Dr. Hans George Stihl, participated in the conference call.

A statement released by Guerdat after the hearing read:

“During the hearing, Steve Guerdat appeared under FEI rules as the person responsible for his horses, pleading the cause of food contamination and calling for the lifting of the provisional suspension. The FEI Tribunal will now analyze the plea and soon give its verdict. Steve Guerdat hopes for a quick and clear response from the FEI so that he can participate with the Swiss team at the upcoming European Championships in Aachen in mid-August and prepare in good conditions.”