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Daniel Coyle (IRL) finished the 2019/2020 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League the same way he started it—with a victory.
After beginning the season with a win in Vancouver (CAN), Coyle rode Farrel to the top of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Ocala (USA), besting an eight-horse jump-off. The duo crossed the timers of Olaf Petersen, Jr.’s (GER) shortened course in 37.05 seconds. Margie Engle (USA) and Dicas finished second with a 37.37-second time, while Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) and Cristalline finished third in 37.96 seconds.
“I think everything was going really well until the last turn. I had a little slip there, and I thought everything was going great until that point. I thought, ‘Have I lost it?’” Coyle detailed. “When I went through the finish and [saw] that I was able to catch the [leaders]—both of them have fantastic horses and are fantastic riders as well—I was delighted to beat them!”
Last to go and Engle to beat, Coyle executed a very different plan than the then-leader. Engle used Dicas’ massive stride to her advantage, while Coyle relied on Farrel’s swift turning, along with a sheer will to win.
“[Farrel] is a very small horse. He doesn’t have as big a jump as most horses, but he just believes he’s one of the best,” Coyle said. “Belief always overdoes talent, and he obviously has loads of that as well, but it’s his way, and he can do things that other horses can’t do.”
The victory secured Coyle a place in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final, which will take place in Las Vegas (USA), 15-19 April 2020. The appearance would mark Coyle’s first in a championship.
“In the middle of last year, [my team] decided to try and aim for the [Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final]. Until today, it seemed we didn’t have enough points. It’ll be my first World Cup Final, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Sternlicht finishes the league atop the east coast standings with 61 points, one more than Elizabeth “Beezie” Madden (USA) with 60 points. Brian Moggre (USA) is third in the standings with 56 points.
Karl Cook (USA) finishes the season atop the west coast standings with 59 points. Jenni McAllister (USA), who finished seventh in Ocala, moved into second with 40 points, one ahead of Alex Granato (USA) with 39 points.
Alison King, Hong Kong’s first FEI Official and a huge supporter of equestrian sport, sadly passed away on 3 March 2020. She was 69.
Alison King was appointed as an FEI Official in 2008 and held various roles through the years. She moved rapidly up the ranks, and was the first person in Hong Kong to become an FEI 5* Para Dressage Judge. She was also an FEI 5* Technical Delegate for Para Dressage, an FEI 4* Dressage Judge, FEI 4* Dressage Judge for Young Horses, and an FEI Level 2 Steward for Jumping, Eventing, Dressage and Para Dressage. In 2016 she was appointed as a Course Director for Stewards in Para Dressage.
She officiated at close to 90 FEI Events over a 12-year period. She was a Para Dressage Judge at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Caen (FRA) and also on the Dressage Ground Jury at the FEI Asian Championships 2019 in Pattaya (THA). She was also an Assistant Steward at the Longines Masters of Hong Kong from 2013 to 2018, and was Chief Steward at last year’s event.
Alison King contributed enormously to Officials’ education, both locally and internationally. At a local level she held the role of HKEF Senior Dressage Judge from 2008 to 2017, while at an international level she was appointed as a Course Director for the FEI Dressage Educative Event Pilot Project in 2014 and developed the Equestrian Sport Educative Event (ESEE) for the Dressage Module funded by the FEI Solidarity.
“Alison was one of our best known Officials in Dressage and Para Dressage and was always a joy to work with”, FEI Dressage, Para Dressage, Vaulting & Reining Director Bettina de Rham said. “During her long career she served the sport internationally through many different roles. Her passion for the sport shone through and her ability to pass on her incredible depth of knowledge were remarkable. She will be greatly missed”.
FEI Executive Board Member and Regional Group VIII Chair Jack Huang described Alison King as “one of our most influential Dressage Judges in Asia”.
Tributes also came in from National Federations.
“The Hong Kong Equestrian Federation would like to express our sincere gratitude for Alison’s contributions in the development of the equestrian sport in Hong Kong in the past decades”, the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation said in a statement. “Her smile, passion and enthusiasm will be forever missed by all of us.”
“Alison was instrumental in the development of Dressage in our country and region and did so much for the sport to flourish through the ESEE Dressage Programme”, Secretary General of the Equestrian Association of the Philippines Michelle Barrera-Juban said. “She had a special place in our hearts and will be sorely missed.”
The FEI extends its deepest sympathy to Alison King’s husband Nigel and son Tam, to her large circle of friends, to the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation and the global equestrian community.
Photo caption: FEI Official Alison King, who has passed away at the age of 69. (Hong Kong Equestrian Federation)
New Zealand claimed the honours in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of the United Arab Emirates at Abu Dhabi (UAE) for the second time in two years today when pinning Egypt into runner-up spot and the host-nation into third.
It was another piece of Kiwi equestrian history in the making as anchorman, Daniel Meech, explained.
“This is only the second time a New Zealand team has ever won a Nations Cup - our first was here in Abu Dhabi in 2018, so this is a really special place for us!”, said the 46-year-old rider who was also a member of that first-time winning side and who helped clinch today’s victory with the only double-clear of the competition.
This second round of the 11-leg Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2020 series was the single qualifying competition for teams in the Middle East region. And after a spirited battle filled with plenty of drama, the UAE and Syria have made the cut to the Final in Barcelona (ESP) next October. Only three countries fought that particular battle, and it was the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who lost out when finishing last of the six competing nations.
At the halfway stage New Zealand and the UAE shared the lead on a zero score despite elimination for second-line Kiwi rider Richard Gardner who took a fall at the first fence with his 12-year-old gelding Calisto. The United Arab Emirates team looked very comfortable indeed, not requiring the services of their anchor partnership of Mohammed Al Kumeiti and Dalida van de Zuuthoeve when Abdullah Mohd Al Marri (James VD Oude Heihoef), Hamad Ali Al Kirbi (Quel Cadans Z) and Mohammed Ahmed Al Owais (Uto Kerved) all jumped clear.
But Spanish course designer Santiago Varela, the man who will build the tracks at the forthcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, upped the pressure second time out by replacing deeper cups with flat ones and raising a few poles. There were eight clears in the first round, including a particularly gutsy one from Saudi Arabia’s Dalma Rushdi Malhas and Impero Delle Schiave, but Meech produced the only clear of the second round to leave his team on the winning score of just eight faults.
The Egyptians were lying third, carrying just five faults as the second round began despite elimination for their pathfinders Mouda Zeyada and Morocco who won Friday’s President of the UAE Grand Prix in which Egyptian riders filled three of the top ten placings. The innocuous-looking oxer at fence one put paid to Zeyada’s first-round effort when his 12-year-old stallion slammed on the anchors there, and when the pair collected eight faults second time out that was the team discount score as Mohd Osama El Borai (Quintero), Mohamed Talaat (Darshan) and Abdel Said (Arpege du Ru) each had a fence down to bring their final total to 17.
However they found themselves neck-and-neck with the UAE at the end of the day when a single mistake from Al Marri, double-errors from Al Kirbi and Al Owais and five for Al Kumeiti second time out saw UAE also complete on a score of 17 faults. And when the combined times of the best three riders from each team were taken into account an agonising 2.12 seconds separated the two sides, dropping the hosts to third while Egypt clinched runner-up position.
The three-man German team lined up in fourth with 37 faults while Syria finished fifth with 44. The Syrians collected just 11 faults first time out but their second-line rider, 19-year-old Osama Al Zabibi, was eliminated for a fall in round two while the rest of the team added 33 more. However they are on their way to the 2020 Barcelona Final.
In the end the Kiwi victory was clean and clear even though they were reduced to a team of three when Gardener didn’t return to the ring. Four-time Olympian Bruce Goodin and Backatrops Danny V lowered only the first element of the penultimate double second time out while Tom Tarver-Priebe, in only his second-ever Nations Cup outing, hit the same fence with Popeye. So when double-Olympian Meech made no mistake it was all done and dusted, and it was another great moment for New Zealand sport.
Talking about the ups and downs of the day, Meech said afterwards, “it was disappointing for Richard (Gardner) because he aimed his horse for this class, but you get used to performing in adversity in this game and we put our heads down and ground out the win!”
His lovely 11-year-old grey mare, Cinca, a daughter of Casall, was very impressive today and with Tokyo 2020 selection very much in his mind Meech was happy with her performance.
“She’s really nice, I felt she jumped even better in the second round when a few of the fences went up. She’s quite green at this level and it was amazing how she just walked in and did it so easy. She’s really grown into herself this year”, he added.
The Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2020 series next moves to Coapexpan in Mexico for the second leg of the North/Central America and Caribbean League in early May.
Result here
Standings after Middle East qualifier here
Jan Kowalczyk, the 1980 Olympic Jumping champion, passed away on 24 February 2020 after a lengthy battle against ill health. He was 79.
Born on 18 December 1941 in Drogomysl (POL), he started his equestrian career at eight years old at the National Stud in Drogomysl. He went on to become one of the most successful athletes in Polish equestrian history, participating in three editions of the Olympic Games: Mexico 1968, Munich 1972 and Moscow 1980.
At the Olympic Games in Moscow, the then 38-year-old Polish Army officer claimed individual Jumping gold with his horse Artemor and also led Poland to team silver.
Jan Kowalczyk won numerous international competitions, including at major venues such as Aachen, Rotterdam and London. He was also crowned Polish National Champion a record 16 times in Jumping and took individual gold twice in the Polish Eventing Championships.
“Jan Kowalczyk was a wonderful ambassador for equestrian sport in Poland and his gold-medal winning performance in the Olympic stadium Moscow with Artemor was truly astounding”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “He was and will remain an inspiration to young aspiring equestrians throughout Poland and we offer our sincere condolences on this sad loss.”
The FEI extends its deepest sympathy to Jan Kowalczyk’s family and many friends, to the Polish Equestrian Federation and the global equestrian community.
Photo caption: Olympic Champion Jan Kowalczyk (POL), seen here on his way to individual gold at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, has passed away at the age of 79. (© Photo Ernst/pferdebild.de)
The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decisions in four cases involving Prohibited Substances.
The first case involves the horse Chabello (FEI ID 104OU26/MEX), ridden by Bruno Cavalheiro Rebello (FEI ID 10018978/BRA), which tested positive for the Banned Substance Ractopamine at the CSI2* in San Miguel de Allende (MEX), 3-6 October 2019. The FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached on 30 January 2020 between the FEI and the athlete. As the FEI Tribunal accepted that the athlete bore no fault or negligence due to feed contamination, he will not serve any period of ineligibility other than the provisional suspension from 2 December 2019 to 3 February 2020. The results of the athlete and horse at the event were disqualified. Each of the parties will pay their own legal costs.
The second case involves the horse Veni Vidi Vici (FEI ID: 102MJ29/JOR), ridden by Huda Kayali (FEI ID: 10081862/JOR), which tested positive for the Banned Substance Stanozolol and its metabolite 16-beta-hydroxystanozolol at the CSIY-B, in Amman (JOR), 18-19 October 2018. The FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached on 23 January 2020 between the FEI and the athlete. As the FEI Tribunal found that the athlete bore no significant fault or negligence, the athlete’s period of ineligibility was reduced to 17 months, starting on the date of notification (13 November 2018) until 12 April 2020. The results achieved by the athlete and horse at the event were disqualified. The athlete was ordered to pay a fine of CHF 5,000 and legal costs of CHF 2,500.
The third case involves the horse HSM Cornelio (FEI ID: 104GP38/COL), ridden by Pablo Carreño Mora (FEI ID 10072192/COL), which tested positive for the Banned Substance Ractopamine at the CEI1* 80 in Ubate (COL), 19–20 August 2017. The FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached on 31 January 2020 between the FEI and the athlete. As the FEI Tribunal accepted that the athlete bore no fault or negligence due to feed contamination, he will not serve any period of ineligibility except the 13 days’ provisional suspension from 7 to 30 November 2017.The results of the athlete and horse at the event were disqualified. Each of the parties will pay their own legal costs.
The fourth case involves the horse Saura De Fondcombe (FEI ID: 103CM83 /SUI), ridden by Nadja Peter Steiner (FEI ID: 10006562/SUI), which tested positive for the Banned Substance O-Desmethyltramadol at the CSI3*-W in Tetouan (MAR), 5-8 October 2017.
Following an application by the athlete, on 22 December 2017 the FEI Tribunal lifted the two-month provisional suspension of the horse, which had been imposed on 9 November 2017. Following a second application from the athlete, on 8 August 2018 the FEI Tribunal lifted her provisional suspension, imposed on 9 November 2017.
According to the FEI Tribunal Decision, the athlete will be suspended for a period of two years, while the period of the provisional suspension (9 November 2017 to 8 August 2018) shall be credited against the period of ineligibility imposed, meaning the athlete will be ineligible until 19 May 2021. The athlete was ordered to pay a fine of CHF 7,500, pay the cost of the B-sample analysis and contribute CHF 2,000 to the costs.
The Final Decisions on these cases can be found here.
The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decisions.
Separately, the FEI has announced a new adverse analytical finding (AAF) involving an equine prohibited substance. The case involves a *Banned Substance under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs).
In the following Endurance case, the trainer has been provisionally suspended until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horse has been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification. As this case involves a minor, the name of the athlete and horse are withheld.
Horse: N/A
Person Responsible: N/A
Trainer: Ghanim Mohd Al Marri (FEI ID 10048641/UAE)
Event: CEI2* 120 - Bou Thib (UAE), 12-13.12.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Testosterone
Date of notification: 19 February 2020 (horse); 20 February (trainer)
In the two following cases the athletes refused to submit the horses to sample collection and have been provisionally suspended until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision.
Horse: Sarem (FEI ID 105MZ22/KSA)
Person Responsible: Mohammed Almalky (FEI ID: 10134839/KSA)
Trainer: Meshary Almalky (FEI ID:10158793/KSA)
Event: CEI2* 120 - Al Ula (KSA), 01.02.2020
Violation: refusal to submit to sample collection
Date of notification: 19 February 2020
Horse: Kenya De Safray (FEI ID 105AK13/FRA)
Person Responsible: Marine Jobin (FEI ID: 10035870/FRA)
Event: CSI1* - Le Touquet (FRA), 02-05.05.2019
Violation: refusal to submit to sample collection
Date of notification: 21 February 2020
Details on these cases can be found here.
Notes to Editors:
FEI Equine Prohibited Substances
The FEI Prohibited Substances List is divided into two sections: Controlled Medication and *Banned Substances. Controlled Medication substances are those that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned (doping) Substances should never be found in the body of the horse and are prohibited at all times.
In the case of an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for a Banned Substance, the Person Responsible (PR) is automatically provisionally suspended from the date of notification (with the exception of certain cases involving a Prohibited Substance which is also a **Specified Substance). The horse is provisionally suspended for two months.
Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.
Norway’s Geir Gulliksen posted the first World Cup victory of his long and successful career in the thrilling 14th and last qualifier of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League (WEL) in Gothenburg, Sweden today where he pinned young Swiss star Bryan Balsiger into second place and French Olympic gold medallist, Kevin Staut, into third.
But, not satisfied with having stolen the show with the ride of his life on his brave little gelding VDL Groep Quatro, Gulliksen added even more drama when taking a tumble from the horse during the prizegiving.
“I feel fine actually - except for my arse! I wouldn’t change anything that happened today. This crowd – of all the shows in the whole world there is no crowd like this. Even to fall off it doesn’t matter, I couldn’t be happier. This is definitely the highlight of my career!”, said the 60-year-old rider afterwards.
The result saw him rocket up to 10th place in the WEL rankings so he’s now well-qualified for the much-anticipated Longines 2020 Final in Las Vegas, USA next April where current league leader, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, will defend his title for the fourth time. A total of 18 riders from the Western European League, apart from the defending champion, have now booked their tickets to the showdown in the Nevada desert, and Balsiger claimed his spot by moving into 15th place while Staut was already guaranteed a place, finishing fourth on the final leaderboard after a great run over the winter months.
The contours of the Scandinavium Arena always ensures a strong challenge, and today was no exception as only five of the 32 starters found the key to Peter Lundstrom’s tough 14-fence first-round track. The spectators groaned loudest when their own Henrik von Eckermann (Peter Pan) and Peder Fredricson (H&M Christian K) made it all the way to the very last fence only to pick up a fault there, but their long-time hero Rolf-Goran Bengtsson saved the day when making the cut with the big grey, Cassilano Jmen.
He was first to go against the clock with this relatively new ride and left the door open with two fences on the floor in 48.52 seconds. Gulliksen was next into the ring, and his little 14-year-old gelding gave him everything he had to come home clear in 45.75 seconds to put it up to the remaining three.
Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts looked set to knock the Norwegian off his pedestal until H&M Legend of Love hit the first element of the double halfway around the new track, and Staut looked really threatening with the super-fast For Joy van’t Zorgvliet HDC who raced home in the quickest time of 44.51 seconds but lowered the vertical third fence along the way.
Now only Balsiger could stop Gulliksen from taking the win, and this talented 22-year-old who won the opening leg of the series in Oslo last October made no mistake, bringing the 13-year-old mare Twenytwo Des Biches home in 46.45 seconds which slotted him into second place. It would a glorious day for Gulliksen, and despite his sore bottom he was in flying form during the post-competition press conference.
“I’ve been coming to this show for 27 or 28 years and I always hoped for a day like this!” he said. And he talked about the courageous little VDL Groep Quatro who carried him to glory this evening.
“I bought him from (Dutch rider) Mikael van de Vleuten and I think no one thought he would jump like he jumped today. He doesn’t have all the scope but he is so athletic and he believes he’s just as good as any other horse! There was no place on the course today where I thought he would struggle - he just makes it happen. He’s a bit like a pony, and he never stops - he amazes me more and more!” Gulliksen said.
Result here
Standings here
Watch highlights here
Not for the first time, Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour and her mighty little chestnut gelding Atterupgaards Cassidy stole Swedish hearts when winning tonight’s tenth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League at the Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg (SWE).
The Danish pair have a particular affinity with this city, taking bronze here in both the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle at the FEI European Championships staged in 2017 and then returning to win the FEI Dressage World Cup™ qualifier in 2018. And today they were unbeatable once more, despite a shaky start in yesterday’s Grand Prix in which they had to settle for third place after a nasty stumble in their first extended trot and an error of course at the end of their test.
“I’ve had him 10 years now and he’s really special for me and my family. I think I owe this horse everything - he kind of created my career and I am really truly enjoying every time I ride down the centreline because he’s 17 years old and you never know what happens. He feels great and is super-sound, but you just have remember to enjoy every single ride!” Dufour said tonight after pinning Germany’s Benjamin Werndl and Frederic Wandres into third.
Sweden’s Paulinda Friberg and Di Lapponia T kicked off the action after the half-time break with a new leading mark of 74.145, but Wandres soared out in front when posting 81.465 with Duke of Britain for a test that oozed power and pzazz. Their coordination with their musical score was superb.
“We used this music for the first time at London Olympia at Christmas and it was good, today is only the second time we do it and when the crowd started clapping on the last line I knew it was not too bad again!” said the rider who finished his performance with extravagant one-handed passage to the delight of the spectators.
Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry and Dark Legend, who posted a personal-best yesterday when claiming runner-up spot in the Grand Prix, also produced some fabulous passage on their way to a mark of 81.030, but then Dufour blew the whole competition wide open. Cassidy sparkled as they collected 9s for extended trot and 10s for canter pirouette, and when 87.860 went up on the board that was always going to be tough to beat.
The penultimate partnership of Sandra Dahlin and Ichi have been making the headlines all week because this is a horse that comes with a fascinating story. The Dahlin family won Ichi’s mother in a raffle at Gothenburg Horse Show 17 years ago, and the 14-year-old mare has done them proud. As Show Director, Tomas Torgersen, said this evening some new riders who have been given an opportunity to compete at Gothenburg Horse Show this year and they have blossomed. Dahlin is one of those, showing tremendous talent when steering her mare into fifth place both yesterday and again today in only the fourth international outing of their career together.
Last man in was yesterday’s winner Benjamin Werndl, and the crowd watched intently as he consistently racked up strong scores with Daily Mirror, but when 86.170 went up on the board he had to settle for second place behind Dufour. He was far from disappointed however, in fact he said he was “super happy” because this week he has made a breakthrough in piaffe which has sometimes been problematic with this horse. “I’m looking forward to the next competitions now. I always said he’s the best horse I ever sat on, the only thing was the piaffe could be better, but if he does it like he did today then who knows what can happen!”
With just one more Western European League qualifier left to run, in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in three weeks’ time, many of the riders are thinking ahead to the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Las Vegas (USA) in April. Dufour explained that she won’t compete there as she is aiming both Cassidy and her younger horse Bohemian, who topped the opening leg of the WEL series on home ground in Herning (DEN) last October, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
But both runner-up Werndl and third-placed Wandres have it clearly in their sights - if they get the opportunity. “I’d like to go to both Vegas and Tokyo! I have two horses so I will have to discuss with our national trainers. If I go to Vegas I will go with Famoso” Werndl said.
But as Wandres explained it’s not just as easy as that. As it stands tonight, German riders hold the top four places on the WEL leaderboard of which just two will be permitted to join their compatriot and defending champion, Isabell Werth, in the battle for the 2020 title. Top of the table ahead of the 11th and last leg is Jessica von Bredow Werndl, followed by her brother Benjamin Werndl, then Wandres and in fourth is Helen Langehanenberg.
“I’m proud to be German but sometimes it’s not so easy in the dressage ring to be a German rider because there’s always a big fight for the three spots for the World Cup Final. And there’s one more show in March so everything is still open and we have to fight until the end. But if I have a chance to go for sure I will take it because it’s a dream for me, especially with this horse. We came into the Grand Prix sport together and this would be something special!” Wandres said.
Result here
WEL Standings here
The FEI has announced new adverse analytical findings (AAF) involving equine prohibited substances. The cases involve *Banned Substances under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs).
In the following two Endurance cases, the athletes and the trainers have been provisionally suspended from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horses have been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.
Horse: Blue Diamond (FEI ID 106HE36/JOR)
Person Responsible: Fahad Alkharmani (FEI ID 10072564/KSA)
Trainer: Anas Al Saied (FEI ID 10185797/JOR)
Event: CEI2* 120 – Wadi Rum (JOR), 13-14.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Diisopropylamine
Date of notification: 13 January 2020
Horse: Bouzarika (FEI ID 106RJ34/JOR)
Person Responsible: Sameh Faris Mohammad Said (FEI ID 10040466/JOR)
Trainer: Khldoon Mohd Al Sayed (10014556 /JOR)
Event: CEI1* 80 – Wadi Rum (JOR), 13-14.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Strychnine
Date of notification: 13 January 2020
The trainer in the Bouzarika case, Khldoon Mohd Al Sayed, has been provisionally suspended, both in this and a second case from the same event, from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision.
Horse: ***N/A
Person Responsible: ***N/A
Trainer: Khldoon Mohd Al Sayed (FEI ID 10014556 /JOR)
Event: CEI1* 80 – Wadi Rum (JOR), 13-14.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Strychnine
Date of notification: 13 January 2020
*** No PR/Horse Name in cases involving Minors and/or Fast Track Procedures.
In the following Jumping case, the athlete has been provisionally suspended from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horse has been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.
Horse: Gucci (FEI ID 106GE04/MEX)
Person Responsible: Jefferson Martins Maquieira (FEI ID 10027611/BRA)
Event: CSI2* - San Miguel de Allende (MEX), 03-06.10.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Boldenone, Boldienone
Date of notification: 22 January 2020
In the final case, the athlete has been provisionally suspended from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. As the horse was sadly fatally injured at the event, the provisional suspension of the horse is not applicable.
Horse: Snowrunner (FEI ID 105JX73/THA)
Person Responsible: Preecha Khunjan (FEI ID 10089939/THA)
Event: CH-Asian-CCI2*-L - Pattaya (THA), 02-05.12.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Desoximethasone, Isoflupredone
Date of notification: 22 January 2020
Details on these cases can be found here.
Separately, the FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a case involving a Prohibited Substance.
A sample taken from the horse Fifty Shades (FEI ID 104ZG11/USA), ridden by Andrea Torres Guerreiro (FEI ID 10114368/COL) at the CSI4* in Tryon NC (USA), 5-10 June 2018, tested positive to the Banned Substance Boldenone and its metabolite Boldenone Sulfate. The FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached on 17 January 2020 between the FEI and the athlete. Due to prompt admission, the standard two years ineligibility period for the athlete was reduced to 20 months, starting from the date of the sample collection on 9 June 2018 until 8 February 2020. The horse had been provisionally suspended for two months until 22 September 2018.
All the results of the athlete and the horse at the event were disqualified. In addition, all the results obtained by the athlete from 9 June 2018 until 23 July 2018, when the provisional suspension was imposed, were also disqualified. The athlete was ordered to pay a fine of CHF 3,000. Each of the parties will pay their own legal costs.
The Final Decision on this case can be found here.
The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decision.
Notes to Editors:
FEI Equine Prohibited Substances
The FEI Prohibited Substances List is divided into two sections: Controlled Medication and *Banned Substances. Controlled Medication substances are those that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned (doping) Substances should never be found in the body of the horse and are prohibited at all times.
In the case of an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for a Banned Substance, the Person Responsible (PR) is automatically provisionally suspended from the date of notification (with the exception of certain cases involving a Prohibited Substance which is also a **Specified Substance). The horse is provisionally suspended for two months.
**Specified Substances
The FEI introduced the concept of Specified Substances in 2016. Specified Substances should not in any way be considered less important or less dangerous than other Prohibited Substances (i.e. whether Banned or Controlled). Rather, they are simply substances which are more likely to have been ingested by horses for a purpose other than the enhancement of sport performance, for example, through a contaminated food substance. Positive cases involving Specified Substances can be handled with a greater degree of flexibility within the structure of the FEI Regulations.
Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.
Across six continents, horses and riders have been competing in 15 leagues throughout the FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2019/2020 season. Many of the qualifying series are now completed, with only Western Europe, North America and Central Europe yet to be decided. For some of the top finishers their result will carve a path to the Longines 2020 Final in Las Vegas, USA in April. For others, victory in their own region has been their ultimate goal.
Athletes from Uzbekistan dominated the Central Asian League where Gairat Nazarov, who took double-bronze at the 2019 Eurasian Championships in Moscow (RUS), edged compatriot Bekzod Kurbanov at the end of the three-leg series that visited Tashkent (UZB), Almaty (KAZ) and Bishkek (KGZ). There were also three legs in the Longines China League in which athletes from China, Taipei and Hong Kong lined out. The events were staged in Tianjin, Beijing and Chengdu and China’s Jirigala Eerdeng and Tongyan Liu claimed the top two places.
A total of 20 athletes contested the Japan League, and Masami Kawaguchi came out on top ahead of Jun Takada. Third place here went to Eiji Serizawa who collected points at every one of the seven legs of the series.
It was a second consecutive series win for Tegan Fitzsimon in the New Zealand League which concluded last month. The 29-year-old rider won two of the five legs along the way, but it was a close-run affair when she finished just two points ahead of runner-up Brooke Edgecombe who pipped her for pole position at the last leg in Dannevirke.
Chris Chugg, Jamie Kermond and Billy Raymont filled the top three places on the Australian League leaderboard. Chugg won the legs at Tamworth and Sydney, but had to settle for third place at the last round in Boneo where Kermond reigned supreme. However having accumulated 100 points Chugg took the title, and the man who has introduced many super-talented horses to the top end of the sport is planning to bring his winning ride, PSS Levilensky, to Las Vegas.
In South Africa a total of 41 athletes competed in the five-leg league won by Christophe van der Merwe. The 26-year-old topped the opener at Midrand, the third leg in Shongweni and the final in Kromdraai, collecting 75 points which left him well clear of his nearest rival Govett Triggol.
London Olympian, Jose Roberto Reynoso Fernandez Filho, won the South American South League ahead of fellow-Brazilians Flavio Grillo Araujo in second and Karina Harbich Johannpeter in third. There were six events in this series, visiting Sao Paulo, Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Sol de Mayo and Buenos Aires in Argentina. A double of wins, and third place at the leg in Rio, sealed the league title for the rider who took team silver at the South American Games in Quillotta, Chile in 2014.
Just six athletes, all from Thailand, contested the three-leg South East Asian League won by 26-year-old Jaruporn Limpichati who took team bronze and individual silver at the SEA Games in Kuang Rawang, Malaysia in 2017. Runner-up was last year’s series champion, 23-year-old Siengsaw Lertratanachai.
The Arab League is sub-divided, and Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Alsharbatly, individual silver medallist at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2010 in Kentucky (USA), pipped the UAE’s Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi for top spot in the Middle East Sub-League. The North African Sub-League was dominated by Egyptian riders and Abdel Said, who finished 10th at the 2019 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Gothenburg (SWE) with Jumpy van de Hermitage, was clear winner here when finishing with 63 points ahead of compatriots Mouda Zeyada and Karim Elzoghby who slotted into second and third with 38 points each.
The latest FEI Jumping World Cup™ series to conclude was the Caucasus-Caspian League which drew to a close in Tehran (IRI) last week where Ali Aziznia emerged as league champion by a narrow margin of just one point over fellow-Iranian Radmard Housmand.
The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League is also sub-divided and America’s Karl Cook is leading the Western Sub-League while, with one leg still left to run at Ocala in Florida (USA) in early March, it is double series champion Beezie Madden who heads the leaderboard in the Eastern Sub-League.
The last leg of the Western European League takes place in Gothenburg (SWE) this weekend while the Central European League results will be decided at the League Final in Warsaw (POL) in March.
Follow all the results of the FEI Jumping World Cup™ series here
Following concerns raised about FEI Jumping Events in France and Syria where Olympic and Longines Ranking points were on offer, the FEI has investigated events at both Villeneuve-Loubet (FRA) and Damascus (SYR).
The investigation into the three events at Villeneuve-Loubet in December 2019 has established that, contrary to the FEI Rules (Article 110.2.3 of the FEI General Regulations), two competitions counting for the Olympic and Longines Rankings were added at each event after the respective Definite Entries deadlines. The updated Schedules for these three events were submitted to the FEI by the French National Federation and were mistakenly approved by the FEI.
As a result, and in accordance with Article 112.3 of the FEI General Regulations, the FEI has retrospectively removed these additional competitions, meaning that athletes who participated will lose their ranking points from these competitions. The Olympic and Longines Rankings have been updated accordingly.
Additionally, the FEI has established that three of the six events at Villeneuve-Loubet in January 2020 also had two classes counting for Longines Rankings points added after the Definite Entries deadline, again contrary to the FEI Rules. As a result, these additional competitions have been removed and athletes that participated will lose their ranking points for these competitions.
The FEI also reviewed the events that took place in Damascus (SYR) between October and December 2019, and while it was clearly established that there was no breach of FEI Rules and Regulations regarding FEI Calendar entries, the event Schedules or the number of events run, the investigation revealed an irregularity with the prize money at three of the events.
The events held in Damascus on 24-27 October 2019, 31 October to 3 November 2019 and 13-17 November 2019 had total prize money that exceeded the limit for a CSI2* and the Schedules for these events were erroneously approved by the FEI. As a result, the FEI has removed one FEI competition at each of these events in order to bring the total prize money within the specified limit, but this has no impact on the Olympic Ranking for Olympic Group F.
The FEI has also reallocated one of the two Jumping team quota slots from the Olympic Jumping Qualifier for Group F in Rabat (MAR) in October 2019, following adverse analytical findings in two members of the Qatari team, Sheikh Ali Al Thani and Bassem Mohammed. Both athletes tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a metabolite of Cannabis, which is a prohibited substance under the FEI’s Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA).
The FEI Tribunal issued a partial decision regarding the disqualification of the individual results of the two Qatari athletes on 15 February 2020. As a result, Qatar loses its team quota place for Tokyo and this has been reallocated by the FEI to Morocco.
The FEI has now confirmed the team and individual quota places across the three disciplines of Dressage, Eventing and Jumping for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, with three nations – Luxembourg (Dressage individual), Pakistan (Eventing individual) and Israel (Jumping team) – qualifying for the Olympic Games for the first time. The new formats have opened the door for more nations to compete at the Games, with Jumping going up from 27 in Rio to 35 in Tokyo, Dressage increasing from 25 to 30 and Eventing rising from 24 to 30. In total, the number of flags has risen from 43 in Rio to 48 in Tokyo.
Latvia’s individual quota slot for Jumping would mean a first Games start after a 32-year absence, having last competed in Seoul 1988. The Czech Republic and Hong Kong, which have both qualified for an individual place in Eventing, are planning to return to the Games for the first time since Beijing 2008.
The deadline to achieve the Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) is 1 June, after which the FEI will confirm approval of the FEI Certificates of Capability to the National Federations. The final athlete/horse combinations for the three disciplines will be announced on 6 July 2020.
The Olympic equestrian events get underway the day after the Opening Ceremony in Tokyo on 24 July. Dressage will be the first discipline to hold its competitions (July 25-29), followed by Eventing (31 July to 3 August) and then Jumping (4-8 August). The competitions will take place at the Bajikoen Equestrian Park and the Sea Forest Cross Country venue.
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