FEI launches internal drug testing review
The lost samples came from Buehler - the horse of Italian event rider Susanna Bordone - which was tested at Punchestown horse trials in June of 2004. Urine from the horse was found to contain a banned substance.
The FEI, in a statement, initially indicated that the loss had occurred en route to the same laboratory in England where a urine sample from Cian O’Connor’s Olympic horse Waterford Crystal was stolen last year.
In its statement, it said the samples “were lost, for no apparent reason”, before suggesting they were in transit from its main testing lab in Paris, the Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques, to the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory (HFL) in Newmarket, Cambridgeshire, for a confirmatory analysis.
However, an FEI representative yesterday said the press release was erroneous and that the samples disappeared while in the lab.
However, the FEI source could not, as yet, say from which lab the samples had disappeared.
The representative said that “an internal review has been initiated following your questions”, adding that the FEI hoped to be in a position to throw further light on the subject next week.
The main questions posed by this columnist to the FEI last Friday were:
* Did the loss of the sample precede or follow the theft of the Waterford Crystal sample?
Also, regardless of the timing of its occurrence, did alarm bells ring at the organisation’s HQ and what, if any, action was taken?
* Aside from the two known cases, are there other examples of lost, stolen, misappropriated, mislaid - call it what you will - samples?
* Were the Cambridgeshire police informed of the Buehler sample loss, they having opened an investigation following the theft of the Waterford Crystal sample?
* Can the FEI dispel any suspicion that both of the above cases were linked?
Unless the review is categorical in its finding and the appropriate measures put in place, the integrity of the FEI and its labs’ ability to perform test is open to serious question.
It should also be remembered that earlier this year it emerged that a sample from Jessica Kürten’s mare Libertina was found to be leaking when opened at the Newmarket lab, casting further doubt on the testing process.
As was well publicised, the theft of the Waterford Crystal sample came on October 21, 2004, when the B urine sample from O’Connor’s mount was signed off for in the driveway of the HFL lab by a person unknown.
The sample had been sent by courier DHL from the FEI’s main testing centre in Paris and was en route to Newmarket for confirmatory analysis. The theft was a serious blow to the FEI, which had to rely on a blood sample to back up its positive A urine test.
Ultimately, show jumper O’Connor was stripped of his Athens gold medal, though cleared of any deliberate attempt to affect the performance of Waterford Crystal.
Bordone’s positive test came at last year’s three-day event in Punchestown, which took place in June 3-6.
Tests on urine samples found traces of the sedative Romifidine.
Bordone, the 2004 Italian champion and Athens team member started the competition well and was in third place after dressage, but she was eliminated in the cross-country phase of the three-star, Olympic format event at the Kildare event.
In her defence, she pointed to “irregularities in the confirmatory analysis procedures”, the FEI said in its statement, which continued: “Although it was not possible to perform the confirmatory analysis on the blood samples, [Bordone] did not contest the accuracy of the testing methods on the urine sample as well as the test results and positive findings.”
The FEI said that Bordone had admitted administering a product called “Sedivet” to Buehler.
The product contained the prohibited substance and is commonly used to sedate horses before clipping.
Bordone’s vet confirmed advising her of the dose to be administered and Bordone “alleged that, on her veterinarian’s advice, she was convinced that the substance would be completely eliminated from Buehler’s system before the event”.
The FEI Judicial Committee accepted Bordone’s “candid explanation” and agreed there was no deliberate attempt to affect the horse’s performance.
Bordonne was disqualified, but the FEI said: “In light of the special circumstances of this case, the PR is liable to pay a fine of 500 Swiss francs and 500 Swiss francs towards the costs of the administering of this case which is a reduced amount taking into consideration the time lag between event and decision.”
She also had to pay 750 Swiss francs for the confirmatory urine analysis.
* IT is a fair bet that fewer readers of this column know who won the grand prix at Cavan Equestrian Show last weekend than those who know which riders were involved in an altercation that saw the involvement of the gardaí.
Harry Marshall and Ryan Crumley were the riders making headlines for the wrong reasons, with the latter claiming the former struck him in the face.
This is denied by Marshall.
The incident is alleged to have occurred on Friday night, when an argument in the warm-up area continued when Marshall left the arena after completing his round.
Yesterday, a spokesman for Cavan gardaí said: “We can confirm the incident occurred on Friday ... The investigation is on-going.
“A file hasn’t been sent to the DPP, but probably will be.”
Crumley yesterday confirmed he had made a formal complaint to the gardaí.
“I do not want to say anymore, except that it was a very serious incident and it is now in the hands of the authorities.”
The 23-year-old Derry rider is mentored by Cian O’Connor and is based at O’Connor’s Co Meath stables.
Marshall was prominent during this year’s Dublin Horse Show, when he alleged O’Connor had influenced the selection of the nations cup team, resulting in Marshall being dropped.
Antrim rider Marshall yesterday said he had not made a statement to the gardaí regarding happenings at Cavan, but planned to do so.
Meanwhile, the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) said they were awaiting communication from its parent body the FEI before considering what action to take.
The EFI said that, as Cavan show had an international designation, it fell under the remit of the sport’s Swiss-based governing body.
The FEI judge at last weekend’s one-star Cavan international show Alan Jones was this week preparing a report on the matter for the FEI.
“The FEI has the mechanism to sanction any rider who is deemed to have breached FEI regulations on rider conduct,” said EFI secretary general Dan Butler.
The EFI executive will today discuss last weekend’s incident at its monthly meeting. For the record, Captain Gerry Flynn and Mo Chroí won the grand prix at Cavan ahead of Olive Clarke (Spitfield) and Cian O’Connor (Irish Independent Echo Beach).
* TREVOR COYLE placed 12th in the grand prix at the five-star show in Brussels last Sunday, the Northerner four-faulting in round one on his 10-year-old grey gelding Overtime.
In fact, four faults in round one also kept the pairing out of the shake-up in the main classes in the preceding days, as he finished ninth and 12th on Saturday and Friday, respectively.
In Sunday’s speed class, however, he produced a clear with the seven-year-old bay mare Pamone to come home fifth. It was a similar story for Jessica Kürten.
In Oldenburg priming Quibell ahead of this weekend’s World Cup show at Stuttgart, she four-faulted in the opening phase to finish down the rankings.
Cameron Hanley, meanwhile, was the only Irish rider to win last weekend, coming out tops in a two-phase class at the two-star show in Linz, Austria.
Riding his 10-year-old grey mare Night Dancer, the Mayo rider had half a second to spare over over Leichtenstein's Fidel Vogt (Graceland VI).
* THE EFI executive will today discuss SJAI proposals for a new team selection structure and the installation of Robert Splaine as chef d’equipe to the senior team.
It is not known if a formal statement will be forthcoming afterwards, but EFI secretary general Dan Butler yesterday said both of the organisations were close to agreement on the proposals.
There is a certain urgency on finding a consensus, as November 28 is the deadline by which the EFI must submit its application to the Irish Sports Council for high performance funding.
However, it is thought the EFI could submit its proposal for funding on the basis that agreement on the new structure was likely.
* THE Cork/Kerry Branch of the SJAI will hold its annual awards dinner on Saturday, November 26, at the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork, starting at 8pm.
Among the awards to be presented will be those for the €1,000 Rockcliffe Stud 1.20m Young Riders League, with winner Eoin Ryan, Limerick, getting the lion’s share of €300.
Also, there is the Fuji Ireland 1.10m Young Riders’ League worth €1,000, with €300 going to winner Chantelle Kiely, Ovens.
Rochestown Park Hotel put up €1,500 for two novice pony leagues, with Orla Kelly and Dunary Lass claiming the 138cms title and James Barry doing likewise with Silver Style in the 148cms category.
Meanwhile, riders who were selected and attended a training day in July will get a certificate/scroll to mark their participation
Tickets for the dinner can be got at: 021/4371982, 087/4125633.
