Equine Canada Statement and backlash from Eric Lamaze

[Secret_Dove]

For those who haven’t read the statement from Equine Canada here it is:

“We fully support the FEI in its hypersensitivity testing protocol. This is an important testing procedure for the fairness of our sport and for the welfare of the horse which must always be paramount. Victor, our team horse, did have a small but sensitive area on the coronary band as a result of a minor lesion. This resulted in the disqualification of the horse in accordance with the FEI’s hypersensitivity protocol. The Canadian Team is disappointed with the outcome, and the impact both on our team and the Olympic dreams of our athlete Tiffany Foster,” states Mr. Gallagher.

“Equine Canada appreciates that the FEI has shared with us the findings of the veterinary examinations. We also thank the FEI and its president, HRH Princess Haya Al Hussein, for making it clear that the disqualification in no way implies any wrong doing on the part of the Canadian Team, nor athlete Tiffany Foster.”

Eric Lamaze released a statement following Equine Canadas statement:

“Canadian rider and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Lamaze has just informed the Canadian Federation that he will not ride on any Canadian Team, including Spruce Meadows and in Spain until Equine Canada releases a new statement in support of their rider”

I give Eric a lot of credit for standing up for Tiffany. I wonder how this is going to play out.

[fordtraktor]

Like. What a class act.

[Lord_Helpus]

GO Eric!!! You are important to Team Canada and in a unique position to have your statements carry weight.

I am sure there are many other countries who would be happy to have you become a citizen. (I hear the US is a very nice place to live. )

(Is/was Eric qualified for the Individual Medal jumping tomorrow? If so, does this mean that he will not compete?)

[Secret_Dove]

[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;6485025]
GO Eric!!! You are important to Team Canada and in a unique position to have your statements carry weight.

I am sure there are many other countries who would be happy to have you become a citizen. (I hear the US is a very nice place to live. )

(Is/was Eric qualified for the Individual Medal jumping tomorrow? If so, does this mean that he will not compete?)[/QUOTE]

We wouldn’t mind if Eric came and rode for us!!! We’d love to have him! :lol:

Eric is qualified for tomorrow and I wonder the same thing. Is he riding tomorrow or does this mean he isn’t?

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=fordtraktor;6485014]
Like. What a class act.[/QUOTE]

Never thought I’d see the day that was said about Eric. He was banned twice by Canadian sport officials after testing positive for cocaine before the 1996 Games in Atlanta and then testing positive for ephedrine before the 2000 Sydney Olympics, for which he was handed a lifetime ban. That was revoked later.

[Secret_Dove]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6485047]
Never thought I’d see the day that was said about Eric. He was banned twice by Canadian sport officials after testing positive for cocaine before the 1996 Games in Atlanta and then testing positive for ephedrine before the 2000 Sydney Olympics, for which he was handed a lifetime ban. That was revoked later.[/QUOTE]

Why isn’t Eric a class act? He made a mistake and got involved with drugs when he shouldn’t have. He’s proven over the last 12 years that he’s cleaned up his act. I don’t think he should be condemned because he made a mistake, he is human after all! :no:

I agree with fordtraktor, Eric IS a class act. He’s standing up for his fellow team mate and that takes guts! Way to go Eric!!! :)

[yaya]

He said he wouldn’t participate on the Team. Since tomorrow is for Individual medals, I would think he would ride.

[Copilot]

He is competing tomorrow according to Kim Kirton’s blog on the OEF website. She would know!

Despite what happened I doubt he would abandon his country at this stage of the Olympics. Hopefully everything is resolved before Spruce and Spain…

[fordtraktor]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6485047]
Never thought I’d see the day that was said about Eric. He was banned twice by Canadian sport officials after testing positive for cocaine before the 1996 Games in Atlanta and then testing positive for ephedrine before the 2000 Sydney Olympics, for which he was handed a lifetime ban. That was revoked later.[/QUOTE]

Yes, yes, we all know that. Did you never do anything in your youth you regretted later? He has made up for all his youthful indiscretions and more, in my view.

It must be nice to be so perfect as some Cothers…better riders than Beezie, with a better eye for a horse than anyone on the US team, and faultless throughout life in all personal matters. You guys are impressive.

[supershorty628]

Way to go, Eric!!

[mayhew]

Bravo. I don’t care if he did rails off of Cagney’s back, I love the man.

[lauriep]

[QUOTE=fordtraktor;6485083]
Yes, yes, we all know that. Did you never do anything in your youth you regretted later? He has made up for all his youthful indiscretions and more, in my view.

It must be nice to be so perfect as some Cothers…better riders than Beezie, with a better eye for a horse than anyone on the US team, and faultless throughout life in all personal matters. You guys are impressive.[/QUOTE]

Wow, you are my alter ego. EXACTLY my sentiments. There are days I despise these boards for the outright cruelty shown to other posters.

[solstince]

[QUOTE=fordtraktor;6485083]

It must be nice to be so perfect as some Cothers…better riders than Beezie, with a better eye for a horse than anyone on the US team, and faultless throughout life in all personal matters. You guys are impressive.[/QUOTE]

:yes:

[ako]

Wow. Eric has some cojones! I’m impressed!

[trilogy]

has there been any comment from Ian at all?

[FalseImpression]

There is no way WE would let him go to the US… no bloody way! Although he has property in the US, his sponsors are American… but no way.There would be a riot …
I do think it takes some guts (which EC does not have)! I think he is very valuable to EC, he is our top rider and I have a feeling they like to benefit from his notoriety. But, they can be stupid and stubborn!!
We shall see…

And Glimmerglass, where have you been the last 12-16 years??? you should leave the tracks once in a while and maybe read about all of Eric’s accomplishments… people who keep bringing back stuff which happened so long ago either are sour grapes or really live under a rock!

[Crockpot]

Yes, really. Eric deserves credit as he overcame his personal demons and his mistakes did not ever involve horse abuse.(unlike some other top riders who are still adored nonetheless)

[Ravencrest_Camp]

[QUOTE=ako;6485162]
Wow. Eric has some cojones! I’m impressed![/QUOTE]

I’m sorry I don’t see this as a class move by Eric at all. More like a temper tantrum.

And I can not agree or praise him for his conduct during the press conference. To say he is “ashamed” of his sport is beyond the pale. A sport that has given him everything he has, a sport that has given him numerous second chances.

His is a great story. A kid that came from nothing and with talent and hard work became one of the best riders in the world. And then having to over come adversity. But now it just appears like he has a sense of entitlement and that the rules should not apply to his students.

[crackerjack]

Go Eric!! EC really needs to start actually supporting their athletes.

And seriously did somebody really bring up that drug thing… Reaaaaally!!!

[misswinfortune]

Personally, I love it! Tiffany has really been on the bad end of some FEI wrong-doing and I bet it means the world to her for Eric to make such a stand.