Showjumper’s horse tests positive for banned substances

A leading Irish showjumper has confirmed that her horse tested positive for banned substances during a recent event in Canada.

Jessica Kurten said traces of caffeine and theophylline were detected in a sample taken from her horse, Libertina, at the annual Spruce Lodge event last September.

Ms Kurten said the chemicals were naturally occurring herbal substances that are often found in animal feeds.

She said the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) had offered to impose a "symbolic" fine of 250 Swiss francs as punishment for the positive test, but she had declined to accept the offer because she did not accept that she did anything wrong.

She suggested that the banned substances may have entered Libertina via feed supplied at the Canadian event and has requested that the B sample taken from the horse be tested.

Fine Gael MEP Avril Doyle, the president of the Irish Equestrian Federation, has also insisted that Ms Kurten’s case was “the lowest category of offence”.

However, it is a further embarrassment for the Irish showjumping scene following the scandal surrounding Olympic gold medallist Cian O’Connor last year.

Two of O’Connor’s horses, including the one he rode when he won gold at the Athens Olympics, have tested positive for banned substances.