USEF reaction on the Courtney/Mythilus case

[freestyle2music]

USEF reacted on the Positive Drug Test of Mythilus with the following statement:

United States Equestrian Federation Response to FEI Press Release Regarding Positive Drug Test of Mythilus at 2008 Olympic Games

Release: August 27 2008

Lexington, KY - Following a routine drug test on August 19 at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, Mythilus, a US dressage horse, ridden by Courtney King-Dye, was found to have tested positive for Felbinac. Felbinac is considered a class A prohibited substance by the FEI. Felbinac is usually applied topically for the relief of local pain and inflammation and belongs to a group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

When Mythilus arrived in Hong Kong he was treated in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Clinic for artrial fibrillation as a result of the stress of his trip. USEF Veterinarian, Dr. Rick Mitchell attended to the horse in close cooperation with the Veterinary Commission. King-Dye and Dr. Mitchell believe that during treatment at the clinic, he may have come in contact with Felbinac. In discussion with King-Dye, USEF vets, grooms and physical therapists, no other explanation or conclusion was able to be drawn.

“Neither I nor my vets had ever heard of the drug Felbinac until we got the call about Myth’s positive test,” said King-Dye. “We were stunned and baffled. We spent the entire day doing internet research on the uses for this drug and how it could possibly have gotten into my horse’s system. As far as we could find it is not even manufactured, approved, or available in the US. My horse has had no soundness problems whatsoever, and I would have no need for an anti-inflammatory. Anyone who knows me knows whole heartedly that I would never dope my horse intentionally. It is cheating; it is not putting your best against the other’s best. I have never been in a more torturous and frustrating situation; trying to prove innocence is very hard. It saddens me beyond description that my whole reputation could be blackened because of this situation.”

The FEI Tribunal stated in their Preliminary Decision that “there are circumstances in this case that makes it difficult to clear out how the Prohibited Substance entered into the horse’s system.”

“The USEF stands behind the FEI’s initiatives to rid the sport of doping and to protect the welfare of our horses. We are equally supportive of Courtney in this situation as this substance was unknown to any of us until a few days ago,” said USEF CEO John Long. “It seems clear that Mythilus came into contact with it without Courtney’s or Dr. Mitchell’s knowledge.”

[Bogey2]

thanks theo!

[freestyle2music]

[QUOTE=Bogey2;3478700]
thanks theo![/QUOTE]

Let’s keep our fingers crossed for Courtney :yes:

[petitefilly]

I would guess from all the info on the net and the fact that vets from countries other than the US were attending to Myth with his heart/breathing problem someone had the drug on themselves or the instruments being used on Myth. How small is a small amount? The drug testing should also have a scale, if the drug in question is miniscule, and the drug needed a certain amount to be a validly used as a pain killer wouldn’t the amount show it was an accidental amount?

Is this a drug test that shows say one millionth amount in a drop? Ultrasounding gel on a horse could bring that one millionth particle in a sensitive test.

[fordtraktor]

It’s so sad to see something like this happen to such a promising up-and-coming rider. It sounds like she will pull through it fine, though.

I am questioning why the American vets had never heard of felbinac – Surpass is not exactly an unknown product in the US. Every vet I have ever talked to is aware of it. I’m not saying that they used it on Mythilus, just wondering why they aren’t aware of it.

I don’t question at all that CKD had never heard of it, though – I don’t memorize the ingredient list of every horse product either, particularly if it isn’t one I’m using.

[YankeeLawyer]

@fordtraktor;3479658

I am questioning why the American vets had never heard of felbinac – Surpass is not exactly an unknown product in the US. Every vet I have ever talked to is aware of it. I’m not saying that they used it on Mythilus, just wondering why they aren’t aware of it.

The substance at issue, felbinac, is not an ingredient in Surpass. Felbinac is not approved by the FDA and is not available in the United States. It is an NSAID used in Europe and Asia for humans to manage arthritis and similar conditions as well as, in its gel form, a coupling agent for ultrasounds. There are links to information about it on the CKD thread.

[ise]

I suppose to protect themselves riders might consider having blood samples pulled at varying points in time for their own protection. And having them available should a drug test be performed that reveals a positive results. The other samples could at least show the time frame of change in the results.

[Dispatcher]

This drug testing is getting ridiculous. Even the posters here can’t agree on what is what. Sheesh!

[DMK]

Surpass is diclofenic, not Felbinac. If Felbinac is even approved in this country for animals or humans, it’s doing a good job of not showing up on the human or animal (green book) searches in the FDA site. If that is the case, I can see whey a US vet had not heard of it.

[YankeeLawyer]

Felbinac is also a metabolite of another substance (whose name also starts with F; I am blanking but posted it on the CKD thread).

[fordtraktor]

Thanks, that clears it up. I got the Surpass misconception from the other thread, but didn’t read through all 144 posts so missed the rest. Makes sense that the US vets would not have it on the radar.

[ceffyl]

[QUOTE=DMK;3479714]
Surpass is diclofenic, not Felbinac. If Felbinac is even approved in this country for animals or humans, it’s doing a good job of not showing up on the human or animal (green book) searches in the FDA site. If that is the case, I can see whey a US vet had not heard of it.[/QUOTE]

No but you can easly buy it online through a Canadian online pharmacy retailer. It is in gel or foam under the name of Traxam.

[poltroon]

It seems quite likely to me that the source is the coupling gel used for the ultrasounds when the Hong Kong veterinarians were examining the heart.

[War_Admiral]

[QUOTE=poltroon;3480605]
It seems quite likely to me that the source is the coupling gel used for the ultrasounds when the Hong Kong veterinarians were examining the heart.[/QUOTE]

I agree… Out of all the positive tests at these games, to me, this one really is the most suspect.

[ceffyl]

[QUOTE=poltroon;3480605]
It seems quite likely to me that the source is the coupling gel used for the ultrasounds when the Hong Kong veterinarians were examining the heart.[/QUOTE]

Felbinac is used as a coupling medium in ultrasound TREATMENT for acute and chronic conditions were inflamation is present. I seriously doubt if the Hong Kong Olympic veterinarian team would use a knowingly banned substance for a diagnostic. They of all people would be the most learned in FEI, IOC, and WADA rules.

[Eclectic_Horseman]

@ceffyl;3480910

Felbinac is used as a coupling medium in ultrasound TREATMENT for acute and chronic conditions were inflamation is present. I seriously doubt if the Hong Kong Olympic veterinarian team would use a knowingly banned substance for a diagnostic. They of all people would be the most learned in FEI, IOC, and WADA rules.

Yes, but there may have been some gel left on the equipment or it just could have been a mistake. Anyone who thinks that medical mistakes are not made has not read the news story about Dennis Quaid’s newborn twins who almost died because they were given the wrong medication.

[Eyemadonkee]

Just curious, are the horses watched 24-7 by a groom or security guard? What keeps other riders from petting a competitors horse with a prohibited topical cream on their hand? Obviously, it would be stupid to do that to a horse that placed 13th, but what if Courtney had been in medal contention? Has there ever been any foul play at the olympics (that has been discovered)?

[Mozart]

@Eyemadonkee;3481154

Just curious, are the horses watched 24-7 by a groom or security guard? What keeps other riders from petting a competitors horse with a prohibited topical cream on their hand? Obviously, it would be stupid to do that to a horse that placed 13th, but what if Courtney had been in medal contention? Has there ever been any foul play at the olympics (that has been discovered)?

FEI competitions have “secure” barns, in that you need a special pass to get in and security guards do monitor and only allow those in with passes. However, any further internal security (as in, having someone watch over the horse 24/7) is up to the competitor.

[Ruby_G_Weber]

I am curious as to the method of treatment for the Atrial Fibrillation in this horse. Anyone know if they attempted to convert him?

I would think Rick Mitchell would know the FEI drug rules backwards and forwards.

This case does sound like lab contamination to me. The Capsaisin, not so much.

[YankeeLawyer]

[QUOTE=Ruby G. Weber;3481438]
I am curious as to the method of treatment for the Atrial Fibrillation in this horse. Anyone know if they attempted to convert him? [/QUOTE]

I am going to refrain from making any one of a number of possible smartass jokes here, but you did make me laugh because of the double entendre.