Khalid Al Eid and Abdullah Al Sharbatly, two Saudi Arabian show jumpers, faced Fédération Equestre Internationale tribunals for doping offenses on April 18-19.
Al Eid, the individual bronze medalist from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, and Al Sharbatly, the individual bronze medalist from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, are both considered favorites for the Saudi show jumping team at the London Olympic Games. Depending on the outcome of their tribunals, their Olympic participation could be in jeopardy due to suspension. The FEI has not yet released the results of the hearings.
Vanhoeve, a horse Al Eid was competing at the Riyadh CSI-W (Saudi Arabia) on Nov. 30-Dec. 3, tested positive for the anti-inflammatories phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone (a phenylbutazone derivative). Al Eid has been provisionally suspended by the FEI since the test results were reported on Feb. 5.
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Lobster 43, a horse Al Sharbatly was competing at the Al Ain CSI-W (Saudi Arabia) on Feb. 9-11, tested positive for the same two controlled substances. Al Sharbatly has been provisionally suspended since Feb. 23.
The Saudi Equestrian Federation bought multiple top show jumping horses last year to bolster their Olympic bid in 2012, including top British horses Talan and Sultan and U.S. rider Candice King’s former ride Davos.
