Who's Next..... Isabell Werth suspended for using Fluphenazine

[freestyle2music]

Hot from the press

German dressage rider Isabell Werth has been suspended by the FEI. In tests taken during the international show in Wiesbaden lately, the horse Whisper was positive.

Fluphenazine has been found and is a typical antipsychotic drug used for the treatment of psychoses such as schizophrenia and acute manic phases of bipolar disorder.

The president of the German Federation has said: ‘It’s a disaster fot the sport. But we keep on going the way we choose for a fair equestrian sport.’

Tomorrow there will be a FEI hearing to decide the outcome. Isabell Werth has asked for a counter-expertise.

Pferd Aktuell

Die Internationale Reiterliche Vereinigung (FEI) hat die Dressurreiterin Isabell Werth (Rheinberg) bis auf Weiteres von allen Turnieren suspendiert. Im Rahmen einer Medikationskontrolle am 30. Mai beim internationalen Pfingstturnier in Wiesbaden wurde bei ihrem Pferd Whisper die Dopingsubstanz Fluphenazine nachgewiesen. Dies teilte die FEI der Deutschen Reiterlichen Vereinigung (FN) jetzt mit.

“Das ist eine Katastrophe für den Pferdesport. Wir lassen uns aber von den schlechten Nachrichten nicht entmutigen und werden den eingeschlagenen Weg für einen fairen Pferdesport fortsetzen”, zeigte sich FN-Präsident Breido Graf zu Rantzau kämpferisch.

Die FEI hat am 25. Juni eine Anhörung angesetzt, in der das Tribunal entscheidet, ob es die vorläufige Suspendierung aufrecht erhält. Die Regelung, dass Reiter und Pferd bereits nach einer positiven A-Probe suspendiert werden, gibt es international seit Anfang 2008. Isabell Werth wird eine Öffnung der B-Probe beantragen.

[eurodressage]

For those few (and they must be very few as this is an American bulletin board <g>) who are not fluent readers of German, an English version on Isabell Werth’s suspension

http://www.eurodressage.com/news/dressage/germany/2009/werth-doping.html

[snoopy]

She of “its nobody’s business what I give my horses”…

It is far likely to be cross-contamination…“someone” forgot to wash their hands after taking their meds!!!

[Gayla]

@snoopy;4185476

She of “its nobody’s business what I give my horses”…

It is far likely to be cross-contamination…“someone” forgot to wash their hands after taking their meds!!!

Oh come on! I hope your kidding here! Most people don’t take liquid drugs for this type of disorder. Second, the dose for a human would be so small. Third, if they were giving it to another horse. Shame on them.

[Kareen]

Yep… I always thought that was an odd statement for someone who has nothing to fear and is a role model athlete
They should found a club and write a book ‘20 ways to ruin equestrian sports - an advanced manual’ I’m sure it would be a hit with all the big names to it…

[snoopy]

[QUOTE=Gayla;4185512]
Oh come on! I hope your kidding here! [/QUOTE]

geez, you think!!! Of course I am kidding. It was more in reference to the type of medication found and “someone”…

[JRG]

Just disappointing.

[ridgeback]

Let’s wait for the B sample before we hang her:yes:

[harveyhorses]

Maybe her horse IS bipolar. (trying to make a funny)

I’ll go pick out a good tree, how about? Anybody got a rope?

[freestyle2music]

[QUOTE=Kareen;4185516]
Yep… I always thought that was an odd statement for someone who has nothing to fear and is a role model athlete
They should found a club and write a book ‘20 ways to ruin equestrian sports - an advanced manual’ I’m sure it would be a hit with all the big names to it…[/QUOTE]

How about “50 ways to leave your lover” :D:D:D

[canyonoak]

I guess I am the only person who finds is ‘convenient’ that after all these years of testing–NOW is when Isabell Werth’s horse tests positive.

Maybe she better have a talk with Jessica Kuerten.

The world of horse sport is full of asshats and zealots and no I am not referring Isabell or Ludger.

[canyonoak]

Am I the only person who finds it disturbing, not to mention strange, not to mention far-fetched, not to mention suspicious that the Werth horse is her small tour horse, WHisper and NOT either of her GP stars who ,btw, are guarded 24/7…?

and my my my, the FEI can act quickly when it wants to I guess… while dragging out the cases of Princess Haya’s husband and his son, thus nulllifying Haya’s effectiveness.

witch hunt.

unbelievable.

[Renn_aissance]

I cannot fathom any reason to deliberately give fluphenazine to a horse, especially given its potency and the risk of side-effects, when I am sure there are much better sedatives out there.

[monstrpony]

Waitaminit–Okay, I admit I’m not following all of this too closely, but didn’t the Gemans just disband all of their teams because of issues with misuse of drugs, and isn’t Isabell one of the first ones they reinstated? What IS going on here???

[Renn_aissance]

Perhaps that is what Canyonoak is referring to.

[cute_lil_fancy_pants]

Fluphenazine is given by veterinarians as a long term sedative for horses. One injection will last a month. BUT! Just a thought-- is it legal for rider’s to compete on anti-schizophrenic drugs? What if a rider is schizophrenic, or has cancer, or thyroid problems-- certainly some drugs are legal for riders to use if they are suffering from a disease, so where do they draw the line? And if it is OK for riders to compete on fluphenazine, then why not horses? What if the horse does have a mental disorder like schizophrenia, who is to say it doesn’t?

[freestyle2music]

As stated in another topic. FN is acting to be holier as the pope.

In the most recent panel discussion about doping they also pointed at other countries. The reason why all this doping cases are bubbling to the surface mainly in Germany, is because they have the most advanced equipment of the world.

Theo

[Eclectic_Horseman]

This is getting to be like BASEBALL for crying out loud…

[freestyle2music]

[QUOTE=eurodressage;4185463]
For those few (and they must be very few as this is an American bulletin board <g>) who are not fluent readers of German, an English version on Isabell Werth’s suspension

http://www.eurodressage.com/news/dressage/germany/2009/werth-doping.html[/QUOTE]

Woow Eurodressage aka Astrid Appels aka Bento this must hurt

BTW Don’t forget there is an interview with Isabell tonight on German television.

In the meantime you might help to translate this panel-discussion find at :

http://www.topdressage.tv/POPUP-Hagen-Panel-Doping-Vidget-All.htm

[Arizona_DQ]

[QUOTE=cute_lil_fancy_pants_pony;4185817]
Fluphenazine is given by veterinarians as a long term sedative for horses. One injection will last a month. BUT! Just a thought-- is it legal for rider’s to compete on anti-schizophrenic drugs? What if a rider is schizophrenic, or has cancer, or thyroid problems-- certainly some drugs are legal for riders to use if they are suffering from a disease, so where do they draw the line? And if it is OK for riders to compete on fluphenazine, then why not horses? What if the horse does have a mental disorder like schizophrenia, who is to say it doesn’t?[/QUOTE]

Because humans have a choice on what drugs to take and whether or not they feel “up to” competing, horses have no choice… :no: