Macken disqualified from RDS competitions

EDDIE MACKEN was yesterday disqualified from all competitions at the 2008 Dublin Horse Show, having been found guilty by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) tribunal of failing “without compelling justification” to submit the mare Tedechine Sept to sample blood/urine collection.

The tribunal described it as an “inadvertent technical violation” by the Canada-based Longford rider, who was fined 1,500 Swiss francs and ordered to pay the same amount towards the legal costs of the judicial procedure.

The ruling does not specifically mention the nations cup competition at the RDS, in which Macken competed, but FEI spokesperson Malina Gueorguiev confirmed yesterday that, as a result of the ruling, the Irish team was also disqualified from their second place in the competition – forfeiting €34,000 prizemoney – as the retirement of another rider in the second round reduced the team to just two, less than the minimum requirement.