FEI Tribunal issues Final Decision in a case of Abuse of Horse

The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a case of Abuse of Horse and Breach of the FEI Code of Conduct on the Welfare of the Horse.

The abuse case involved the horse Allegro (FEI ID 104QY43 /GER), ridden by Andre Schröder (FEI ID 10022310 /UKR), at the CSI1* in Samorin, Slovakia 6-9 May 2021.  

FEI Officials reported to the FEI, that prior to the Grand Prix competition, the athlete used hind boots with sharp pressure points on his horse. Upon further inspection of the boots by the Chief Steward, it became visible that there were holes on the inside of the hind boots, containing sharp spikes. The athlete changed his statement a number of times and was ultimately issued a Yellow Warning Card onsite for Abuse of Horse. Further to a detailed review of the FEI Officials’ Reports, the FEI deemed that the seriousness of the offence warranted additional sanctions in accordance with the FEI General Regulations.

In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal disqualified the horse and athlete from the competition in question, and imposed a one-year suspension on the athlete starting from the date of this decision, 29 September 2021. The athlete was also fined CHF 5,000 and asked to pay costs of CHF 2,000.

The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decision

The full Decision is available here. 

 

 

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 athlete 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.

Case: 2021/BS10     

Horse: SPOOTNICK DAVRIL (FEI ID 104YN31/BEL)

Person Responsible: Raoul RONSMANS (FEI ID 10014170/BEL)

Event: CEI2* 70 + (2) - Monpazier (FRA), 27-29.08.2021

Date of sample collection: 27.08.2021                  

Prohibited Substance(s): O-desmethylvenlafaxine

Date of notification: 30 September 2021

Details on this case 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.

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.