Does anyone understand the reasoning behind this disqualification?
http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/denis-lynch-removed-irish-olympic-squad
Lantinus tested positive during routine hypersensitivity testing at Aachen. What’s to understand ? He was removed from the team by the Irish.
The word straight from Ireland is that he punched the Chef D’Equipe in the face. But of course they can’t say that he was removed from the team for that.
Well Denis was going to compete on another horse, Abervail, and Lantinus was “disqualified” because of a wound and an abrasion which became hypersensitive (see below). I don’t see anywhere that the rider did something wrong. I’m just an endurance rider, but if a horse is “pulled” (we use disqualified for an entirely different situation) the rider is certainly not prohibited from riding in the future. Everything Denis says at least (I quoted only a portion of the article - there are several more pages in the Chronicle article) suggests he did everything correctly.
[I]"On Wednesday evening [July 4], Lantinus was presented to the FEI vets for examination as he had picked up a small wound on the left fore leg and an abrasion on the right hind leg sustained in the competition he participated in that day. These injuries were noted and a decision was taken by the Chef D’Equipe, Mr. Robert Splaine, the Irish team vet, Mr. Marcus Swail and I that Lantinus was fit to compete on Thursday. I would like to make it perfectly clear that I do not have the authority to make this decision by myself when competing for the Irish team and these decisions are always made in conjunction with the Chef D’Equipe, Mr. Splaine and the Irish vet, Mr. Swail. In fact, as stated in the meeting this morning by Mr. Splaine, the Chef D’Equipe has the final decision on the rider and horse competing at a Nations Cup event. He also stated that the Chef D’Equipe’s position is a highly pressurised and responsible position, an opinion I agree with entirely. It is certainly a very responsible position as the decision made by the Chef D’Equipe has had very serious consequences.
"Lantinus was examined again two hours before the Nations Cup on Thursday by the FEI vets who were satisfied he was fit enough to compete. Having competed in two very difficult rounds in very testing ground conditions, Lantinus was examined again and there were increased sensitivity around the noted areas and a further exam was undertaken at 8:30 a.m. on Friday. The sensitivity had not decreased and Lantinus was now considered hypersensitive within Annex XI of FEI Veterinary Regulations and on this advice; Lantinus was disqualified by the attending FEI vets. We had thirty minutes to appeal and following discussions with Mr. Splaine and Mr. Swail, we decided not to appeal and allow Lantinus to be treated. Our primary concern was the welfare of Lantinus and also I had no intention of Lantinus competing in any other event at Aachen. [/I]
Olympicdreams04-
Much shorter explanation. Why do guys have to do that? Thanks.
[QUOTE=olympicdreams04;6450949]
The word straight from Ireland is that he punched the Chef D’Equipe in the face. But of course they can’t say that he was removed from the team for that.[/QUOTE]
Well I’m betting that D was already off the team before he threw the punch - even if there’d been no official statement yet …
Ironic that they have replaced him with Cian O’Connor.
Really, that’s the word from Ireland?
Anyway, it’s been a disaster for the team and Denis. Enough of the Cian bashing as if he’s the only SJ to be disgraced by drugs. Denis was banned from the last Olympics. And Ludger Beerbaum’s mantra used to be: “if it can’t be found, I though it was allowed.”
Change the record and moving on.
Denis superb rider and didn’t deserve this. Cian has been clean since the scandal so I wish him nothing but the best.
Terri
Denis and Lantinus were 3rd in a 1.50 today in Chantilly. So clearly alright BTW.
Terri
The real question is, did Robert Splaine deserve the punch? Or is he the one with a hypersensitivity problem?
Oh for God’s sake… Where did the “Word from Ireland come from…?”
I never heard that. I don’t doubt the meeting was robust, but certainly never heard anything about fisticuffs - and even if it did happen it wasn’t the reason for Denis being taken off the team.
This is the third time Denis’s horses have tested positive for hypersensitivity in the last 12 months!!! A little excessive don’t you think?
Surely people can understand why HSI might have felt that give this recent record, it would have been a risk to send him to the Olympics, especially given the embarrassments at the last two.
Yes Denis earned a lot of points to secure one of Ireland’s two places, but a third hypersensitivity test in 12 months just weeks before the start of the games had to have been a step too far.
[QUOTE=Napoles;6452165]
Oh for God’s sake… Where did the “Word from Ireland come from…?”
I never heard that. I don’t doubt the meeting was robust, but certainly never heard anything about fisticuffs - and even if it did happen it wasn’t the reason for Denis being taken off the team.
This is the third time Denis’s horses have tested positive for hypersensitivity in the last 12 months!!! A little excessive don’t you think?
Surely people can understand why HSI might have felt that give this recent record, it would have been a risk to send him to the Olympics, especially given the embarrassments at the last two.
Yes Denis earned a lot of points to secure one of Ireland’s two places, but a third hypersensitivity test in 12 months just weeks before the start of the games had to have been a step too far.[/QUOTE]
This is exactly the point. Sadly, Lantinus may have had a genuine “naturally occurring” hypersensitivity this time, however the same horse tested positive for capsaicin in Beijing and was disqualified as a result. If Lynch truly HAS cleaned everything up and this is another Sapphire scenario… I feel badly for him. However, I understand the FEI’s reason for suspicion.
The Irish team’s track record for doping at the olympics in 2004 and 2008 would really motivate them to do everything in their power to not be humiliated again. It makes you wonder though… is it just the individuals on the team? Is Splain squeaky clean? Shrug.
[QUOTE=aascvt;6460343]
The Irish team’s track record for doping at the olympics in 2004 and 2008 would really motivate them to do everything in their power to not be humiliated again. It makes you wonder though… is it just the individuals on the team? Is Splain squeaky clean? Shrug.[/QUOTE]
Remember Splaine was only appointed team manager in 2009, so was not Team Manager for either the 2004 or 2008 Olympics.
He has always been known and respected as an exemplary sportsperson and to insinuate anything else is uncalled for and disingenuous.
Rider’s bid to reclaim Olympic place could unseat O’Connor
By John Tynan, Equestrian Correspondent
Friday, July 27, 2012
Show jumper Cian O’Connor’s bid for Olympic redemption hangs in the balance after Denis Lynch made a dramatic last-ditch bid to be reinstated in the Games.
Tipperary rider Mr Lynch stunned the equestrian world yesterday when he asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to consider the withdrawal of his Olympic nomination by Horse Sport Ireland, after his horse Lantinus was disqualified at the German Nations Cup show in Aachen.
His brother and manager Shay Lynch confirmed that, initially, an appeal had been submitted to Switzerland at 12pm yesterday, but efforts were being made last night to refile the application to CAS’s ad hoc division in London, the correct route for an Olympic appeal.
Shay Lynch said his brother “would not have submitted the appeal unless he felt there was a reasonable chance of success”.
“If it is successful, his nomination must go forward again and he would intend to compete in the Olympics. He is on his way to Spain, to compete, but is ready to travel to London at short notice.”
While the Olympics begins in earnest tomorrow, the show jumping does not start until a week later, and CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb said the appeal process could be fast-tracked.
“We have 12 arbitrators on standby,” he said. “A panel of three are picked to hear the case and the hearing would be organised as soon as possible… So, if we receive notification by Friday, the case can be heard almost on the same day.”
Mr O’Connor was substituted in place of Lynch, ironically, as both riders’ names are embedded in the public consciousness as a result of Olympic controversy.
Mr Lynch was selected to represent Ireland in London, along with Billy Twomey, but days after their unveiling, Lantinus was disqualified at the Nations Cup in Germany after its legs were found to be hypersensitive. A Horse Sport Ireland panel was not satisfied with Mr Lynch’s explanation on Jul 9, and withdrew his nomination.
Mr Lynch came under public scrutiny in the 2008 Olympics after Lantinus was disqualified with the German-based rider on the cusp of winning a medal, while Mr O’Connor won gold in the 2004 Olympics, only to lose it after his horse tested positive for banned substances.
A Horse Sport Ireland spokesman last night noted “it is now 17 days since the decision in respect of Denis Lynch was taken and one day before the Olympic Games begin”.
[QUOTE=Napoles;6452165]
This is the third time Denis’s horses have tested positive for hypersensitivity in the last 12 months!!! A little excessive don’t you think?
Surely people can understand why HSI might have felt that give this recent record, it would have been a risk to send him to the Olympics, especially given the embarrassments at the last two.
Yes Denis earned a lot of points to secure one of Ireland’s two places, but a third hypersensitivity test in 12 months just weeks before the start of the games had to have been a step too far.[/QUOTE]
For starters, the “hypersensitivity” testing is still questionable, and the horse was not positive by any wrong doing by the part of the rider or his team. Secondly, the mount that tested and was disqualified WAS NOT his Olympic mount. No reason for this guy to be pulled.
I guess he took lessons from eventer Alexander Peternell. What’s so darned funny is that Peternell’s horse was held at the jog and had to re-present.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;6461462]
I guess he took lessons from eventer Alexander Peternell. What’s so darned funny is that Peternell’s horse was held at the jog and had to re-present.[/QUOTE]
What lessons?
And why is that funny?
The South Africans selected their one rider before the FEI closed qualifying. At the time Peternell did not have a qualified horse because his other horses were injured. Back in December when he found out that his top horse couldn’t go, Peternell bought a horse in Germany. He managed to qualify it at the last possible moment and has only ridden it in 4 FEI events since January; but qualified only after the South Africans had selected their team. However, they nominated him anyway in official FEI nomination thread.
The South Africans strung him along and didn’t tell him that they had an “early” selection. He, because he lives in GB and has for the past 11 years, had more FEI rider points than the rider selected. When the other rider was chosen over him, Peternell took the case to the CAS. They said that under the South African specific selection criterion, Peternell should have been selected based on his points, even though he and the horse are a very new pair; that the SA selection criteria didn’t mention horses or pairs, only rider points.
After the first decision, South Africa said that if they couldn’t send their home rider, they wouldn’t send anyone. Peternell appealed again, and CAS said they had to send him. South Africa isn’t happy.
Funny, because Peternell had a broken horses and got this one at the last minute. Then his top horse broke. He forced his participation; and if the horse had been spun, SA would have been without any rider at all.
Alex qualified three horses for the Olympics.
Back in December when he found out that his top horse couldn’t go, Peternell bought a horse in Germany. He managed to qualify it at the last possible moment and has only ridden it in 4 FEI events since January; but qualified only after the South Africans had selected their team.
Wrong again. The closing date for qualifications was 17 June, not the April date. One of the reasons CAS upheld his appeal was because SAEF tried to change the date to an earlier date, to make sure Paul got in ahead of Alex.
Funny, because Peternell had a broken horses and got this one at the last minute. Then his top horse broke. He forced his participation; and if the horse had been spun, SA would have been without any rider at all.
I don’t find it funny when ANY horse is injured. FWIW, Uprising is now sound, but Alex is in the fortunate position to have a second horse that he could have taken.
