The FEI Tribunal issues Final Decision in case involving a Prohibited Substance from the Olympic Games Paris 2024

The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a case involving a Prohibited Substance from the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

In this case, the horse Dia Van Het Lichterveld Z (FEI ID 106WJ63/BE), ridden by Tine Magnus (FEI ID 10045338 /BEL), at the Olympic Games in Paris (FRA) in Eventing, from 27-29 July 2024, tested positive for the prohibited substance Trazodone.

The athlete was able to trace the source of the Banned Substance in the horse’s system back to the supplement RELAX PRO – Global Medics – Equine Care Group. This finding was based on an independent analysis requested by the athlete from two highly recognised toxicologists. This contamination hence accounted for the positive finding in the horse, and the athlete had clearly established on a balance of probabilities, how the Banned Substance Trazodone entered the horse’s system. Consequently, the FEI and the athlete entered into a Settlement Agreement.

In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal accepted the Settlement Agreement and imposed an ineligibility period of five months on the athlete from the starting date of the Final Decision. The provisional suspension of the athlete, which came into effect on 3 September 2024, shall be credited against the ineligibility period, meaning the athlete will be eligible to compete as of 3 February 2025. The athlete is also fined CHF 4,000.

The results obtained by the athlete and horse at the Olympic Games in Paris are disqualified and consequently, in accordance with art 623.2 of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian Events at the Olympic Games, the Belgian Team’s results, fourth place in the Eventing Team Competition are disqualified.  

The full Decision is available 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 that 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.

FEI Warning Regarding the Administration of Supplements to Horses

Persons Responsible should be aware that it is not unusual for supplements, herbal remedies etc. marketed within the equine industry or over the internet to contain Banned Substances or Controlled Medication Substances that are not disclosed on the product label. It is also possible that those substances are contained in different amounts in the supplement, herbal remedies etc. than stated on the label, or the product used may have been inadvertently contaminated with a Banned or Controlled Medication Substance. There is no guarantee that the ingredients list on any supplement, herbal remedy etc. is accurate.

Any Person Responsible who uses supplements, herbal remedies etc. for his/her horse does so at his or her own risk of committing an EADCMR violation. Persons Responsible should always ensure that they exercise extreme caution and judgment in the products that they use. Persons Responsible are also advised to ensure that all members of their Support Personnel are informed about the risk of giving supplements, herbal remedies to their horses and act accordingly.

For further information please consult the Equine Anti-Doping Rules and the Equine Controlled Medication Regulations. The full FEI Warning Regarding the Administration of Supplements to horses can be found on the Clean Sport for Horses - FEI Prohibited Substances List page.