The FEI Tribunal has maintained the two-month provisional suspensions on the three Swiss show umping horses: Nino des Buissonnets and Nasa (FEI ID FRA45675), ridden by Steve Guerdat, and Charivari KG, ridden by Alessandra Bichsel. Two-month provisional suspensions were imposed on the horses on July 20 after they tested positive for prohibited substances. 

Samples taken from Nino des Buissonnets at the CSIO***** at La Baule (France) on May 17 returned positive for the banned substances codeine and oripavine and the controlled medication substance morphine. Samples taken from Nasa at the CSIO***** at La Baule on May 16 returned positive for codeine and morphine. The horse’s sample also showed traces of oripavine but not at a sufficiently high level for the testing laboratory to declare a positive. Samples taken from Charivari KG at the CSIOY in Deauville (France) on May 8 returned positive for codeine, oripavine and morphine.

The two athletes, Guerdat and Bichsel, were notified of the positives on July 20 and immediately requested the lifting of the provisional suspensions. Although the FEI Tribunal lifted the provisional suspensions on the riders on July 27, requests for the lifting of the provisional suspensions on the three horses were denied at that time.

The FEI Tribunal subsequently responded to Guerdat’s request for a further decision regarding the lifting of the provisional suspensions on his horses to be taken by today, Aug. 10, the closing date for definite entries for the FEI European Show Jumping Championships in Aachen, Germany. 

As a result of today’s FEI Tribunal decision to maintain the provisional suspensions of the horses, although Guerdat is eligible to compete in Aachen, he will not be able to ride Nino des Buissonnets and will need to select an alternative pre-declared horse.

Decisions on the full merits of the cases will be made at a later stage.