Fate of O’Connor gold medal to be decided in Monday blood test

THE director of the British laboratory from where the Waterford Crystal B urine sample was stolen said the package was handed to someone without official identification.

Steven Maynard of Horseracing Forensics Laboratory (HFL) in Fordham, Cambridgeshire, also said no security passes had gone missing from members of staff.

He told the Irish Examiner: “There’s no suggestion that it was anything like a HFL identification.

“I’m absolutely confident that the signature DHL obtained was not provided by a member of HFL staff.”

He added that it was usual policy for packages to be delivered and signed for in the HFL building.

It was also confirmed yesterday that Cian O’Connor’s hopes of retaining his Olympic Gold medal rest entirely on the result of the test on the B blood sample taken from Waterford Crystal.

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) said in a statement that the test on the B blood sample, to commence on Monday at the US Equestrian Federation’s reference laboratory in Ithaca, New York, will decide the fate of O’Connor’s medal.

“For most medication control cases for horses, only urine is analysed; when necessary and depending on the circumstances of the case the blood sample is analysed,” the statement read.

“The FEI reference laboratory, USA Equestrian Drug Testing and Research Laboratory, will proceed with the analysis of the B blood sample in due course in accordance with FEI veterinary regulations.”

The FEI also said they were proceeding with an internal secretariat investigation.

Meanwhile, the defence forces yesterday said that an inquiry, which began last Monday, will not reveal any illicit practices at the Army Equitation School at McKee barracks in Dublin.

“It was not a witch hunt, it was a pro-active measure, given the current climate of innuendo and rumour,” Commandant Brian Cleary said.

“No illicit practices were found and the reputation of the school remains untarnished.”

Members of University College Dublin’s veterinary department carried out the probe and a report will be issued next week.

Cambridgeshire police confirmed yesterday that the detective constable carrying out the investigation into the disappearance of the waterford Crystal B urine sample has been on leave since Wednesday and will only return to work tomorrow. DC Stephen Day is the only police representative involved in the pursuing the case, which was described by a police spokesman as “low-level crime”.

Meanwhile, one of the veterinarians who took the original sample from Waterford Crystal, Swiss vet Dr Francoise Hess-Dudan, said of the controversy yesterday: “All I can say is that it is very sad for the sport.”