On August 22 U.S. Olympic dressage team member Courtney King-Dye learned that her mount Mythilus had tested positive for the banned substance Felbinac, which is considered a medication class A prohibited substance by the Fédération Equestre Internationale.
Felbinac is applied topically for relief of local pain and inflammation and belongs to a group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
King-Dye placed 13th individually in her first Olympic Games with Mythilus and earned the highest score during the team competition for the United States, securing fourth place.
Although the preliminary positive test came back on Aug. 22, the dressage competition was already completed, so FEI officials decided to wait until the B sample confirmed the positive result before making a public announcement. King-Dye was provisionally suspended following a preliminary hearing before one member of the FEI Tribunal.
Now that the B samples have confirmed the initial findings, the process will follow the Accelerated Medication Control Procedure during and after the Olympic Games, which is part of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian events at the 2008 Olympic Games (Annex G), available on the FEI Olympic website.
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Evidence and written submissions have been requested from King-Dye and the four show jumpers who also had horses test positive for a banned substance. A three-member panel of the FEI Tribunal has been appointed. Hearings will be held on Sept. 5, 6 and 7 in Lausanne, Switzerland, however it is up to the rider whether or not they wish to exercise or waive their right to be heard. The panel will then, in light of all the evidence received, make a decision regarding sanctions.
The FEI will provide an update following the hearings and final decisions will be announced prior to the end of the first week in October, as long as the hearings can be held as scheduled.
The competition results will be amended as indicated in the Tribunal’s final decision.