Show jumping hit by fresh drugs crisis
Christian Coyle's horse Glenkeen Highlight tested positive at Cavan show in Ireland last November.
Mr Coyle, who competes on the national grand prix circuit, has refused to make any comment.
The drugs involved were the painkillers phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone and flunixin. The positive test was designated grade one by the FEI, the highest level on its scale. This means the drugs have a high potential to affect the performance of the horse and Coyle, from Co Derry, is facing the prospect of a suspension.
The case, which is expected to come before the FEI Judicial Committee before the end of the week, came to light when the FEI published the name of the rider and others from a range of countries on its website recently. The federation did so as part of a recommendation by its task force, which was set up to devise a strategy to deal with doping in the wake of the controversies in the sport in the past year.
It was part of an effort to be more transparent following severe criticism of the Swiss-based federation's handling of the Cian O'Connor case. The FEI intended that there would be ongoing publication of the status of cases in the judicial process. However, following enquiries, the FEI has since removed the list from its website.
Cases, including the Irish one, were included in the FEI list after a positive A-sample was confirmed by an analysis (B-sample), or the person responsible for the animal had waived his/her right to a B-sample.
This case brings to six the number of known Irish equines to test positive in 2004. Three high-profile cases included Cian O'Connor's Waterford Crystal and ABC Landliebe, along with fellow international Jessica Kurten's Castle Forbes Libertina.
Meanwhile, the owner of the pony who tested positive at a nations cup competition last year, has been fined 3,000 Swiss francs almost 2,000 by the FEI and has had the pony disqualified from the competition.
Terry Power's pony Loughnatousa Bart was ridden by his daughter Cailin at Arezzo, Italy, as part of the winning Irish team.
The pony tested positive for the anti-inflamatory/painkillers flunixin and naproxen. Listed as grade one, they have a high potential to affect the performance of the animal.
The FEI deemed that, "as the person responsible [Mr Power] failed to provide any conceivable explanation for the finding of the prohibited substances, the presumption of a deliberate attempt ... to affect the performance of the horse is to be applied".
As Mr Power is not a rider, no suspension was imposed.
