The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a case involving Ergonovine, a *Banned Substance under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs). Uruguayan Endurance athlete Victoria Goñi (FEI ID 10042167) has been suspended for two years following the adverse analytical finding in samples taken from the horse El Mate (FEI ID […]
via FEI Tribunal issues Final Decision In Victoria Goñi’s Ergonovine Case — newfanzoneblog
The FEI Tribunal has today ratified agreements in three human anti-doping cases between the athletes and the FEI, global governing body for equestrian sport. The three US athletes, who were tested at the Ocala-Reddick CCI in Florida (USA) last November, were provisionally suspended from 21 December 2017, the date of notification of their adverse analytical […]
The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decisions on three banned substance cases under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs). Samples taken on 4 September 2015 from the horse Houkoumi G (FEI ID 104XV97/BEL), ridden by Evelyne Stoffel (FEI ID 10128731/BEL) at the CEI1* 100 in Virton (BEL), tested positive for the […]
via FEI Tribunal Issues Final Decisions on Banned Substance Cases — newfanzoneblog
The FEI Tribunal has this week published decisions in three Endurance cases in the United Arab Emirates involving Dr Hallvard Sommerseth, Abdul Aziz Sheikh and Ali Mohammed Al Muhairi.
Dr Hallvard Sommerseth, former Head of the Veterinary Department at the United Arab Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF), has been suspended as an FEI Official for a two-year period for non-compliance with FEI Rules and Regulations and his involvement in a number of events from which duplicate results were submitted to the FEI.
The FEI Tribunal found that Dr Sommerseth had been “grossly negligent with regards to his duties as an FEI Official” during the events. Dr Sommerseth had been provisionally suspended by the FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez since 31 August 2015.
The FEI Tribunal suspension, which prevents Dr Sommerseth from acting as an FEI Official or having any involvement in FEI activities at a national or international level, runs through to 15 April 2017. The FEI Tribunal, which also fined Dr Sommerseth CHF 4,000 and ordered him to pay CHF 1,500 towards the costs of the legal procedure, took into account the ongoing provisional suspension imposed by the FEI Secretary General and the period from 12 March to 27 July 2015 when the EEF was suspended.
Dr Sommerseth has 21 days from the date of notification (10 March 2016) to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Abdul Aziz Sheikh, former Head of the EEF Endurance Department, has been suspended from acting as an FEI Official or having any involvement in FEI activities at a national or international level by the FEI Tribunal for an 18-month period.
Mr Sheikh was provisionally suspended by the FEI Secretary General on 13 October 2015 for consistently failing to observe the FEI Rules and Regulations over a period of several years and for allowing a number of Endurance events to proceed without accurate timing systems.
The FEI Tribunal has now suspended him until 12 April 2017, taking into account the provisional suspension imposed by the FEI Secretary General. Mr Sheikh has also been fined CHF 3,000 and ordered to pay CHF 1,500 towards the costs of the legal procedure.
Mr Sheikh has 21 days from the date of notification (10 March 2016) to appeal the decision to CAS.
The FEI Tribunal has also issued a decision in the case against Ali Mohammed Al Muhairi (UAE) regarding breaches of the terms of a four-year suspension imposed in March 2012 following an Equine Anti-Doping Rules violation. Under the terms of the suspension, Mr Al Muhairi was not allowed to participate in any capacity or be present at any Event authorised or organised by the FEI, other than as a spectator. The FEI Tribunal extended the period of ineligibility through to 21 April 2016 and ordered Mr Al Muhairi to contribute CHF 500 towards the costs of the legal procedure.
The Parties have 21 days from the date of notification (10 March 2016) to appeal the decision to CAS.
The FEI has announced two new Adverse Analytical Findings involving prohibited substances.
Samples taken at the CSIO2* in Tehran (IRI), 22-25 September 2015 from the horse Sir de Diamant (FEI ID 102PH75/IRI), ridden by Mohammad Davoud Shekofti (IRI), have returned positive for the Banned Substance Stanozolol and its metabolite, 16 Beta Hydroxy-Stanozol, an anabolic steroid that promotes muscle mass. The horse’s sample also tested positive for the Controlled Medication substances Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid used to treat inflammatory and auto-immune conditions, and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Flunixin.
Samples taken at the Young Horse Endurance Championships in Valeggio sul Minico (ITA) on 26 September 2015 from the horse Barbaforte Bosana (FEI ID 104OJ42), ridden by Camilla Malta (ITA), have tested positive for the Banned Substance Ergonovine, a vasoconstrictor.
Both athletes have been provisionally suspended from the date of notification (16 November 2015). The horses have also been provisionally suspended for a two-month period.
Support personnel
In a separate case, the FEI has notified Dr Pasha Syed Kamaal (IND) that a case has been opened against him as support personnel in the 2012 case of Glenmorgan (FEI ID UAE40813). Samples taken from the horse, which was ridden by HH Sheik Hazza bin Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan (UAE) in the CEI3* 160 km at Al Wathba (UAE) on 10 February 2012 returned positive for the Banned Substance Propoxyphene, an opioid analgaesic, and its metabolite Norpropoxyphene.
The FEI Tribunal had already imposed a 27-month suspension on HH Sheik Hazza bin Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the Person Responsible, which was reduced to 18 months on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). During the FEI Tribunal and CAS proceedings, Dr Syed Kamaal made statements confirming that he had administered the product Fustex to the horse on the night before the event. Fustex contains Propoxyphene, although it is not listed as an ingredient.
Dr Syed Kamaal has been provisionally suspended from the date of notification (16 November) in advance of the case coming before the FEI Tribunal.
Final Decisions
The FEI Tribunal has issued Final Decisions in the case of the horse Up Date 2 (FEI ID GER46325/ITA), with sanctions imposed against the rider, horse owner and vet. Samples taken from the horse at the CSI3* San Giovanni in Marignano (ITA) on 9 August returned positive for the Banned Substance Stanozol.
A two-year period of ineligibility was imposed on the rider, Mariano Ossa (ARG), the Person Responsible (PR) under the FEI Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations, from the date of sample collection. However, the FEI Tribunal reduced the period of suspension by five months as substantial assistance from the PR resulted in proceedings being opened against the horse owner and the vet. As a result, the PR will be ineligible through to 8 March 2016. He was also fined CHF 2,000 and ordered to pay CHF 1,000 towards the legal costs of the judicial procedure.
Additionally, the horse has been disqualified from all placings at the event, as well as from all placings achieved since 21 May 2014, the date of administration of the Banned Substance.
The horse owner, Fabio Mazzarella (VEN), and the FEI Permitted Treating Veterinarian Dr William Yerkes (USA) were both charged under Article 2.2 of the FEI Equine Anti-Doping Regulations relating to use or attempted use of a Banned Substance. A two-year period of ineligibility has been imposed on Dr Yerkes, and a 19-month suspension for Mr Mazzarella. Both periods of ineligibility have been backdated to 21 May 2014, the date when the Banned Substance was administered to the horse. The owner has also been fined CHF 5,000.
Swiss Jumping riders Steve Guerdat and Alessandra Bichsel, whose horses tested positive for Prohibited Substances earlier this year, have been cleared of any wrongdoing following separate legal agreements with the FEI. The agreements, in which the FEI accepts that the positives were caused by poppy seed contamination, have been independently approved by the FEI Tribunal.
Under the terms of the agreements, there are no sanctions against either Guerdat or Bichsel other than the automatic disqualification of the horses’ results at the events where they tested positive in accordance with Article 9 and Article 10.1.4 of the FEI Equine Anti-Doping (EAD) Rules.
Samples taken from the horse Nino des Buissonnets, ridden by Guerdat, at the La Baule CSIO5* in France on 17 May returned positive for the banned substances Codeine and Oripavine and the controlled medication substance Morphine. Samples taken from the horse Nasa (FEI ID FRA45675), also ridden by Guerdat, at the same event on 16 May returned positive for the banned substance Codeine and the controlled medication substance Morphine. The sample from Nasa also showed traces of Oripavine, but not at a sufficiently high level for the testing laboratory to declare a positive.
Samples taken from the horse Charivari KG (FEI ID 102ZB26), ridden by Bichsel, at the CSIOY (Young Riders) in Deauville (FRA) on 8 May also returned positive for the same three substances, Codeine, Oripavine and Morphine.
The two athletes, Guerdat and Bichsel, were notified of the positives by the FEI on 20 July and were both provisionally suspended. The three horses were also provisionally suspended for a two-month period.
The FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender acknowledged in July that the three positives were probably the result of contamination, but that standard procedure still had to be followed.
The FEI Tribunal agreed to lift the provisional suspensions on the two athletes on 27 July, but requests for the lifting of the provisional suspensions on the horses were denied. The two-month provisional suspensions imposed on the horses expired on 19 September.
Both Guerdat and Bichsel had used the same feed supplier, and independent laboratory tests have proved that the feed was contaminated with poppy seeds. The FEI accepts that the circumstances of the cases were exceptional and that the presence of the three prohibited substances in the horses’ samples is consistent with poppy seed contamination.
The FEI also accepts that the two athletes have demonstrated that they bear no fault or negligence and have also established how the Banned Substances entered the horses’ systems, the two requirements under the FEI Equine Anti-Doping (EAD) Rules in order to have the two-year period of ineligibility and other sanctions eliminated.
Under the terms of the two agreements, neither of the athletes was required to appear before the FEI Tribunal for a hearing. However, the panel of FEI Tribunal Chair Erik Elstad (NOR), Pierre Ketterer (FRA) and Henrik Arle (FIN) was called upon to give its formal approval of the agreements in accordance with the Article 7.6.1 of the FEI Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs).
The FEI Tribunal’s Final Decision states that it can find “no grounds to object to or disapprove the terms of the Agreement and is satisfied the Agreement constitutes a bona fide settlement” of the three cases. The cases are now closed.
“Both these athletes and the Swiss National Federation have worked in full cooperation with the FEI to secure these landmark agreements and it’s good to know that since the beginning of this year the FEI processes can facilitate such settlements so that athletes are able to clear their names when contamination is involved”, the FEI Secretary General said.
“Steve Guerdat and Alessandra Bichsel fully accepted that standard procedures had to be followed, but were able to provide proof that the positives were due to contamination, which meant that we could reach a settlement that was acceptable to both the FEI and to the FEI Tribunal.”
The agreements were reached in accordance with Article 7.6.1 of the EADCMRs, which was implemented on 1 January 2015 following approval at the 2014 FEI General Assembly. The provision, in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations, allows for an agreement between the Person Responsible and the FEI, and the agreements with Guerdat and Bichsel mark the first time that such a settlement has been reached under the new provision.
The FEI Tribunal has issued its final decision in the case involving the athlete Maxime Livio (FRA) and horse Qalao des Mers at the Eventing competition of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014, following a positive finding for a Controlled Medication Substance.
The FEI Tribunal has imposed a six-month suspension on Livio, effective immediately from yesterday (7 May), in accordance with Article 169 of the FEI’s General Regulations and Article 10.2 of the Equine Controlled Medication Rules.
Livio has also been fined CHF 2,500, and will have to cover the B Sample analysis costs and contribute towards the costs of the judicial procedure.
Samples taken on 29 August 2014 from the horse Qalao des Mers (FEI ID 103MQ19) returned positive for Hydroxyethylpromazine sulfoxide, a metabolite of the sedative Acepromazine. Acepromazine is a Controlled Medication Substance on the FEI Prohibited Substances List. Controlled Medications are substances that are regularly used to treat horses, but which are not allowed in competition in order to maintain a level playing field.
The FEI Tribunal last month disqualified Livio and the French Eventing team from their placings at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014. Livio finished fifth in the individual competition and was also a member of the fourth-placed French team. As a result of the team disqualification, France has lost its Rio 2016 Olympic slot.
The FEI Tribunal ruled on the disqualification of Livio and the French Eventing team in last month’s partial decision following a request from the FEI that the Tribunal rule separately on this element of the case due to the consequences regarding Olympic qualification
The FEI Tribunal has dismissed a request from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Federation for an interim lifting of its suspension from the FEI. The Tribunal’s decision means that the suspension remains in force pending the final outcome of the formal appeal by the UAE National Federation against the suspension.
The FEI Bureau provisionally suspended the UAE National Federation on 12 March 2015 for an indeterminate period following an investigation by the FEI into major horse welfare issues and non-compliance with FEI Rules and Regulations in the discipline of Endurance.
The request for interim relief prior to a full hearing was considered by a three-member FEI Tribunal panel made up of Henrik Arle (FIN), who chaired the panel, Erik Elstad (NOR) and Pierre Ketterer (FRA). The full merits of the case will be heard by the same Tribunal panel at a later date.
In its decision, which has been published on the FEI website today, the FEI Tribunal stated that it had “taken note of the FEI’s argument that the FEI Bureau Decision had been taken primarily on horse welfare grounds, due to consistent rule breaching by the Appellant, the effects of which was jeopardising horse welfare . . . The Tribunal therefore finds that the Appellant’s interest in having the suspension lifted does not outweigh the FEI’s interest in protecting horse welfare.”
The FEI Tribunal also ruled that the FEI Headquarters should continue to issue passports for non-Endurance horses from the UAE. This followed a request from the UAE National Federation to be allowed to issue horse passports for non-Endurance horses.
The FEI Tribunal has disqualified Maxime Livio (FRA) and Qalao des Mers from the Eventing competition of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014, following a positive for a Controlled Medication substance. Livio, fifth in the individual rankings, was also a member of the French team, which finished fourth in Normandy to secure qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The FEI Tribunal has also disqualified the French team, resulting in the loss of its Olympic qualifying slot.
Samples taken on 29 August 2014 from the horse Qalao des Mers (FEI ID 103MQ19) returned positive for Hydroxyethylpromazine sulfoxide, a metabolite of the sedative Acepromazine. Acepromazine is a Controlled Medication substance on the FEI Prohibited Substances List. Controlled Medications are substances that are regularly used to treat horses but which are not allowed in competition in order to maintain a level playing field.
Any breach of the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations results in automatic disqualification of the rider/horse combination. Additionally, at Olympic Games or FEI World Equestrian Games™, a positive result for a team member will, except in exceptional circumstances, result in the disqualification of the whole team.
The FEI Tribunal ruled on the disqualification of Maxime Livio and the French Eventing team from their placings at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy following a request from the FEI, due to the implications regarding Olympic qualification. In its partial decision, the Tribunal ruled solely on the disqualifications. A final decision on further sanctions will be issued at a later stage.
Following the disqualification of the French team, the Canadian Eventing team, which had originally finished seventh, moves up one place and is now qualified for Rio 2016.
The nations so far qualified for the Eventing competition at the 2016 Olympic Games are Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Australia, Ireland, and Canada. Brazil, as host nation, earns automatic team qualification for Rio 2016, although as with all other nations, individual team members must achieve the minimum eligibility requirements.
A second case involving Maxime Livio was dropped by the FEI earlier this month when the B sample from Bingo S, a borrowed horse ridden by Livio at a Jumping event in Thailand last November, failed to confirm the initial positive result.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Federation has lodged a formal appeal to the FEI Tribunal against its provisional suspension from the FEI.
The FEI Bureau provisionally suspended the UAE National Federation on 12 March 2015 for an indeterminate period following an investigation by the FEI into major horse welfare issues and non-compliance with FEI Rules and Regulations in the discipline of Endurance.
Prior to lodging its appeal, the UAE National Federation had sent a formal request asking the FEI Bureau to lift the suspension. The request was rejected by the FEI Bureau and, as a result, an official appeal has been lodged by the UAE National Federation.
The appeal process will be managed in accordance with Art. 165 Appeals of the FEI General Regulations and the Internal Regulations of the FEI Tribunal.
“It is disappointing that an appeal has been lodged and that the UAE National Federation has chosen to go down the legal route rather than seeking ways to solve the issues and make a lasting commitment to improving the welfare of the horse at Endurance events in which it is involved”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender said.
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