Appeal lodged with CAS in Freund’s case

On 27 February 2006, an appeal against the decision of the FEI Judicial Committee in the matter of the horse MARY 64 and the driver Mr Michael Freund was lodged with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (“CAS”) by Mr. Zoltan Lazar, the Hungarian Equestrian Federation, Mr. Félix Marie Brasseur, the Fédération Royale Belge des Sports Equestres and the Organizing Committee of the 2004 World Driving Championships.

On 6 March 2006, the CAS confirmed the assignment of this case to its Appeals Arbitration Division. The parties have been invited by the CAS to file their positions and to appoint their arbitrators. Once the appellants have produced their appeal brief, the FEI will have 20 days to provide its answer to the CAS.

Note to the editor
On 23 January, the FEI Judicial Committee terminated the proceedings in the case of Mary 64, one of the horses with which Michael Freund won the 2004 FEI World Driving Championship in Kecskemet (HUN). The horse had tested positive to the prohibited substance Valerenic Acid.

In June 2005, the Judicial Committee had held a first hearing and accepted the evidence that the horse Mary 64 had been allowed to graze in a field next to the event, which contained Centranthus ruber plants, and recommended that controlled tests be conducted to determine whether Valerenic Acid may be found in a horse’s systems as a result of the consumption of these plants.

A second hearing was held on 23 January and after having heard the opinion of different experts, the Judicial Committee considered that there were indications that results could vary due to the stage in the plant life cycle at which it is consumed by the horse, and various other factors. The Judicial Committee decided by a majority of its members present to terminate the proceedings.

The full text of the Judicial Committee’s decision in this matter is available on the FEI website, section Legal.

Zoltan Lazar (HUN) finished second of the Championship
Isbrand Chardon (NED) finished third
Felix Brasseur (BEL) finished fourth