Brazil Olympic rider Pessoa’s horse fails drug test

RUFUS, the horse of show jumper Rodrigo Pessoa, has tested positive for a banned substance at the Olympics, bringing to six the number of horses to have done so.

The Brazilian was the silver medallist at the Athens Olympics, before subsequently being presented with the gold medal forfeited by Cian O’Connor.

According to the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), Rufus tested positive for the banned substance nonivamide, part of the capsaicinoid family and “classified as a doping prohibited substance, given its hypersensitising properties, and as a medication class A prohibited substance for its pain relieving properties”.