FEI: Courtney's horse tests positive for banned substance

[Coreene]

From the FEI Press News that came out in the last few minutes:

The FEI would also like to communicate an additional doping/medication case at the 2008 Olympic Games concerning Courtney King (USA) and Mythilus, who tested positive for the banned substance Felbinac, considered a « medication class A » prohibited substance. Felbinac is applied topically for the relief of local pain and inflammation and belongs to a group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Courtney King, who placed 13th individually in the Dressage competition, was officially notified on the morning of 22 August of the positive test result and the decision for provisional suspension was upheld that evening at a preliminary hearing before one member of the FEI Tribunal.

Given that the Dressage events of the 2008 Olympic Games ended on 19 August it was decided to wait until the confirmatory B analysis prior to any public announcement of the findings. The FEI has now received confirmation of the initial finding from the analysis of the B sample.

Next steps

Now that the B samples have confirmed all the initial findings, the process will follow the Accelerated Medication Control Procedure during & after the 2008 Olympic Games which is part of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian events at the 2008 Olympic Games (Annex G), available on FEI Olympic website.

Evidence and written submissions have been requested from each rider, and a three-member panel of the FEI Tribunal has been appointed. Hearings will be held on 5, 6 and 7 September in Lausanne, however it is up to the Person Responsible 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, take a decision as to the applicable sanction if any.

[kt]

Holy crap.

[ridgeback]

UH-OH

[dressurpferd01]

Holy freaking hell, of all the people…

[TheHunterKid90]

How wonderful. ughhh

[Eclectic_Horseman]

I had heard warnings that the testing for these olympics was to be extremely sensitive. If they picked up an ingredient in Equi-block, lord knows what else they would pick up and for how long.

I guess my “Big Brown theory” about Brentina must have been incorrect. :o

[ridgeback]

Looks like these riders need to go all natural and use nothing but cold water, massage, acupuncture etc…:no:

[grayarabpony]

They need to come up with some sort of standards for testing. It’s picking up EVERYTHING. Even the Olympic committee didn’t believe Germany was cheating in the last Olympics, but took away team gold because them’s the rules.

[ridgeback]

[QUOTE=grayarabpony;3477565]
They need to come up with some sort of standards for testing. It’s picking up EVERYTHING. Even the Olympic committee didn’t believe Germany was cheating in the last Olympics, but took about team gold because them’s the rules.[/QUOTE]

amen…

[LexInVA]

Oh frak. This was her Olympic debut. I don’t like this at all. Not one damn bit. She earned her way to the Olympics and now it’s taken from her. I bet it’s those shitty French labs again. They should all be shut down. They have some of the worst testing records on the planet yet all the global sports organizations use them.

[Eclectic_Horseman]

But that’s why they developed the post-arrival elective testing process

http://www.fei.org/Events/Olympic_Games/Documents/Elective%20Testing%20in%20Hong%20Kong%20-%20Important%20Conditions%20and%20Requirements.pdf

I understand that the elective tests did not show capcaisin and that’s why the Irish olympian was surprised. But the elective tests did test for felbinac; I wonder why she didn’t elect to test?

[dressurpferd01]

[QUOTE=LexInVA;3477578]
Oh frak. This was her Olympic debut. I don’t like this at all. Not one damn bit. She earned her way to the Olympics and now it’s taken from her.[/QUOTE]

And deservedly so if her horse tested. These people are WELL aware of what’s allowed and what’s not. ANYTHING that will affect the horse in any way is prohibited, end of discussion. I’m not trying to diss Courtney, she’s a wonderful rider and I love Mythilus, but this was a dumb move on somebody’s part.

[freestyle2music]

[QUOTE=dressurpferd01;3477585]
And deservedly so if her horse tested. These people are WELL aware of what’s allowed and what’s not. ANYTHING that will affect the horse in any way is prohibited, end of discussion. I’m not trying to diss Courtney, she’s a wonderful rider and I love Mythilus, but this was a dumb move on somebody’s part.[/QUOTE]

I wholeheartly agree but who is SOMEBODY.

[gottagrey]

The really sad thing about all this testing is that those who cheat will find another way to do so, those who were looking out for the best interst of their horse and the sport will get penalized. Yes, riders, trainer and vets need to be on the lookout for what’s being fed and put on a horse - but because of the 0 Tolerance even a trace amount will yeild a positive test. Unfortunately for many of the well-meaning, well-intentioned riders when the news breaks about a postive test it hits the media with much more sensationalism - DOPING - and making it seem as though the horses are high on METH or something, which often is not the case. Often it is indeed trace amounts. With the list of banned substances -you have to read what’s in the shampoos, linaments (SORE NO MORE contains banned substances). For crying out loud unbeknowst to me I could have had many a positive test at that level as he has a fondness for human snack food - which I often gladly share w/ him - like DORITOS - which contain Chili Pepper which I think is what Capsaicin is. Now thanks to these threads I will no longer share my snacks w/ him - or let anyone else. Something which seems so benign as Doritos could in fact turn one into a cheat or scoundrel.

[vineyridge]

The Hong Kong lab is the best equine testing facility in the world.

[ButterflyIris]

Are they finding these banned substances through hair/skin sample tests, blood tests, urine or all three?
I just wonder how these samples were taken.
sorry about the news

[Mozart]

@vineyridge;3477635

The Hong Kong lab is the best equine testing facility in the world.

Perhaps a little too good? Considering 1.2 billion was spent getting that venue reading for Olympics and I was hoping more competitons woudl be hosted there. I suspect lots would be gun shy now!

[ridgeback]

[QUOTE=freestyle2music;3477614]
I wholeheartly agree but who is SOMEBODY.[/QUOTE]

Somebody could be - groom, coach, competitor, judge, rider…

[marta]

hey guys are these tests sensitive enough

to pick up residues left over on leg wraps, shipping boots, etc?
so if she used wraps that have in the past been used over a banned topical substance, or shipping boots (although not sure when they would have the shipping boots while in hong kong). anyway, you catch my drift, right?

[Foxtrot_s]

It’s complicated. But some of these amounts are so miniscule they couldn’t do anything either way - relieve the horse, or enhance his performance. Residues can last longer than stated. The welfare of the horse, of course, means he cannot be worked if he is sore or on drugs, but zero tolerance with these sophisticated tests is so
disheartening for any competitor. It must be the worst news a competitor can have.