Denis Lynch, Irish show jumper, filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to claim a place as an individual rider for Ireland at the Olympic Games. The court ruled to dismiss Lynch’s application on July 29.
On July 3, Horse Sport Ireland selected Lynch to compete for an individual medal with Lantinus 3. However, mere days later, Lantinus tested positive for hypersensitivity, disqualifying Lynch from the competition at the Aachen CHIO in Germany.
As a result of the infractions, Horse Sport Ireland elected to withdraw Lynch’s nomination. Cian O’Connor replaced him on Blue Lloyd 12.
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These events represented the third disqualification for one of Lynch’s horses at an international competition in the past year, following hypersensitivity incidents at the Rio Global Champions Tour (Brazil) last September and at last year’s Aachen. Lynch’s mount at the 2011 Aachen, Lord Luis, was cleared to compete after a second veterinary examination the next day.
Lynch and O’Connor have both been at the center of doping incidents at the past two Olympic Games. Lynch was disqualified for capsaicin use at the 2008 Olympic Games (Hong Kong), while O’Connor was stripped of his individual gold medal following a positive drug test at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
“Our sport can’t afford to have anyone disqualified at the Olympic Games again,” said Horse Sport Ireland chief executive Damian McDonald in explanation for Lynch’s withdrawal.
