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Doping ban stuns showjumping
Camiro, ridden here by Tony Andre Hansen of Norway during the team competition, is one of four horses thrown out of the individual showjumping final after failing a dope test.
Photo: AP
The Olympic sport of showjumping plunged further into crisis on Thursday when four horses tested positive at the equestrian events in Hong Kong.
Four riders, including Norway's Tony Andre Hansen, who won the team bronze showjumping medal on Monday, were suspended after their horses all tested positive for capsaicin, a drug that increases sensitivity and relieves pain.
The other three riders were Bernardo Alves of Brazil, Christian Ahlmann of Germany and Denis Lynch of Ireland.
"This is certainly a serious blow to the sport," International Equestrian Federation (FEI) jumping committee chairman Sven Holmberg said.
"We are very well aware [what impact positive tests] can have for the jumping sport and for equestrian sport in total."
Holmberg added that the four cases tested positive for the same substance.
"I'm not sure if we can call it a trend, but it certainly adds to the seriousness of the case," he said.
These tests come after two separate doping cases marred the showjumping at the 2004 Athens Games. Irish rider Cian O'Connor and Germany's Ludger Beerbaum both lost their gold medals.
New testing techniques
FEI veterinary commission member Paul Farrington said laboratories had only recently developed the techniques to test for capsaicin, which has always been considered an illegal substance because of its performance-enhancing abilities.
Farrington said he recalled only rare cases in the past.
Capsaicin is a derivative of the chilli pepper plant and has been used both in human and veterinary medication. The drug, which is applied topically, produces an initial burning effect causing hypersensitivity and also relieves pain.
"In terms of the fact it produces pain relief, it can affect the performance of the horse," Farrington said. "Hypersensitivity [will] make the horse jump better and improve performance."
Ahlmann was informed of the positive test and his subsequent suspension on Wednesday, while the others were notified on Thursday morning.
The procedure now calls for a B-sample analysis and upon positive confirmation appropriate sanctions will be applied by a FEI tribunal.
FEI secretary-general Alexander McLin confirmed that processing would begin on one B sample on Thursday while the remaining three would begin on Friday.
Switzerland in line for medal
In the case of Hansen, a nullified score would mean Switzerland would be awarded the bronze medal.
Horses were selected on a random basis and medal winners were also subjected to tests. One horse from each team medal winner was selected for testing. Blood and urine samples were collected as not all horses could produce a urine sample.
The banned horses tested positive through either urine, blood or both. The last positive sample was collected on Monday and tested the following day.
If the B sample proves to be negative, then the FEI will not pursue the case, although nothing can change for the riders who have been provisionally suspended.
"Provisional suspensions [are] something that's been a bit of a debate also with respect to the legal implications," McLin said.
"But the reason why we're applying it is because the risks to the sport are such that it's better to deal with the issues up front and be preventative about it."
A total of 60 horses will be tested in Hong Kong, 20 each from dressage, eventing and jumping. Farrington said about 90 horses had undergone the post-arrival elective testing.