Lynch files his appeal against suspension

SHOWJUMPER Denis Lynch yesterday filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the provisional suspension imposed at the Olympics when his mount, Lantinus, tested positive for a banned substance.

The appeal comes with a week remaining before the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) tribunal had promised to issue its judgement in the case.

Monika Gattiker, a lawyer employed to represent the German-based Tipperary rider for the CAS appeal, said they fundamentally disagreed with the imposition of a provisional suspension while the case had yet to be finalised.

“We filed an appeal against the suspension, because we expect that the proceedings at the FEI tribunal will take longer than September 30, and we are of the opinion that the final suspension will not be shorter than the provisional suspension,” said Ms Gattiker. “There should be no suspension, while the case is active. You cannot undo a suspension.”

Ms Gattiker is also representing Brazilians Bernardo Alves and Rodrigo Pessoa, both of whom with Lynch were among five show jumpers whose horses tested positive for capsaicin.

Ms Gattiker is also fighting the case of Antrim rider Jessica Kuerten, who is to appear at CAS’s Lausanne headquarters on December 9 to appeal the two-month suspension imposed following the discovery of the banned medication etoricoxib in Castle Forbes Maike in May of last year.

It is not known when CAS will set a date to hear the Lynch appeal, but he will be hoping for an early positive outcome that will allow him to compete in next month’s €1 million Global Champions Tour final in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

The Olympics was the first time for any horse to test positive for capsaicin, which is derived from chilli peppers and is classed as a doping and a class A medication for its pain-relieving properties.

Lynch has taken a moderate stance to date, explaining that the substance came to be in Lantinus as it was an ingredient in the product Equi-block, which the 32-year-old rider used to loosen the muscles on the gelding’s back.

On Monday, US dressage rider Courtney King-Dye was issued with a one-month suspension by the tribunal after her horse Mythilus tested positive for Felbinac — a non-steroidal anti-inflamattory drug — at the Olympics.