FEI running out of time and labs to test sample

THE International Equestrian Federation (FEI) is running out of time and laboratories in which to test the B blood sample taken from Cian O’Connor’s horse Waterford Crystal.

This was confirmed yesterday by Equestrian Federation of Ireland president Avril Doyle, who said the FEI had five main labs and testing must begin by next Monday, the regulation 21 days after O'Connor requested it.

However, with the lab at Paris ruled out having tested the A urine sample and with Newmarket claiming it had reached capacity along with a similar claim from Hong Kong yesterday, the FEI is left with just New York and Sydney, Ms Doyle said.

"There are only five reference labs in the world, so, it's a case of lack of capacity and it's now approaching the last stand for the FEI," she said, adding the sample was now almost as well travelled as herself.

The MEP also confirmed that the New York lab had agreed to test the blood sample, having previously said it was not in a position to do so.

Speaking from Brussels, she said she had been informed the Hong Kong lab refused the Waterford Crystal sample saying the delivery of five other samples, three from Athens Olympic horses, had brought it to full capacity.

However, Ms Doyle "could not confirm or deny" if the labs to date had given spurious reasons for not testing the Waterford Crystal sample due to the events surrounding it.

"I believed the Newmarket reason was bona fide, but after the latest development regarding Hong Kong, you have to wonder," she said.

Commentating on the fact the B blood sample must be opened by next Monday in the presence of O'Connor's witnessing analyst, she said if this did not happen, the FEI would have difficulty processing the case against the Olympic gold medallist. "If he cannot get comparative analysis (to the A sample) the case ends there."

FEI chief vet Frits Sluyter yesterday confirmed the federation had five main reference labs, but he also revealed it had a list of associate labs.

Displaying a certain amount of understandable paranoia citing the recent history surrounding the Waterford Crystal saga he would not confirm if these associate labs could test for the same range of substances as the main reference labs.

However, Ms Doyle also warned: "It is my understanding that these centres do not have the same sophisticated analytical ability as the reference laboratories."

That would mean it is now up to New York, or, Sydney.