The latest participant in a seemingly never-ending series of doping scandals is four-time Olympic show jumper Michael Whitaker of Great Britain. His mount Tackeray, owned by Michelle Gatland, tested positive for the synthetic hormone altrenogest at La Baule (France) on May 14. The pair placed fourth in the 1.45 meter Prix Equida there.
The 49-year-old has requested that a B-sample be taken and analyzed from the 9-year-old KWPN stallion. Should that sample also test positive, Whitaker has made clear that he wants a full hearing before a Fédération Equestre International tribunal, which usually consist of seven members.
FEI officials released a statement confirming that Tackeray’s A sample had tested positive for altrenogest in the CSIO*****.
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“Consistent with FEI rules, the rider was provisionally suspended from competition. Mr. Whitaker challenged the provisional suspension at a preliminary hearing before the Preliminary Hearing Panel member,” read the statement. “The provisional suspension of Mr. Whitaker was maintained by the preliminary hearing Panel member, and Mr. Whitaker therefore remains provisionally suspended.”
Whitaker maintains that the hormone, found in the legal product Regumate, was meant for his mare Portofino and was fed to Tackeray in a mix-up, according to the New Zealand website Horsetalk.
Whitaker did not compete at either the Global Champions Tour stop at Monte Carlo (Monaco) or the Hickstead Derby (Great Britain) this past weekend.
