The Fédération Equestre Internationale announced that three Swiss jumping horses have tested positive for prohibited substances.
Samples taken at the CSIO5* at La Baule (France) on May 17 from the horse Nino des Buissonnets, ridden by Steve Guerdat to win the grand prix on the day of testing, have returned positive for the banned substances codeine and oripavine, and the controlled medication substance morphine.
Samples taken at the CSIO5* at La Baule on May 16 from the horse Nasa, ridden by Steve Guerdat to finish third in the La Baule Derby on the day of testing, have returned positive for the banned substance codeine and the controlled medication substance 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 for the substance.
Samples taken at the CSIO Young Riders in Deauville (France) on May 8 from the horse Charivari KG, ridden by Alessandra Bichsel, have returned positive for the banned substances codeine and oripavine, and the controlled medication substance morphine.
Under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations, a mandatory provisional suspension is imposed on the athlete in the event of a banned substance positive prior to the opportunity for a full hearing. Similarly, under the regulations, a horse testing positive to a banned substance is provisionally suspended for two months.
Guerdat is the reigning Olympic individual gold medalist and Longines FEI World Cup Final champion. He won the individual 2012 Olympic gold on Nino des Buissonnets and the 2015 Longines FEI World Cup Final on Albführen’s Paille.
With Nino des Buissonnets, he is short-listed for the Swiss team for the European Championships, Aug. 19-23.
As a result, Guerdat and Bichsel have both been provisionally suspended from the day of notification, July 20, and the three horses have been provisionally suspended for two months. The FEI offers the athlete, referred to in the rules as the Person Responsible, and the horse owner the opportunity for a preliminary hearing before the FEI Tribunal to request the lifting of the provisional suspensions.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The presence in all these samples of oripavine, which is not found in any veterinary products, suggests that this could be contamination, but obviously we still have to follow standard procedure,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender said.
“The combination of oripavine, morphine and codeine have frequently been seen in contamination cases from other equestrian sport regulators, and the FEI already has three outstanding cases from 2014 involving oripavine and morphine in which we proactively sought the lifting of the provisional suspensions. As the regulator of international equestrian sport, we have to balance fairness to the athletes with our dual role of protecting horse welfare and maintaining a level playing field.”
The FEI has three ongoing 2014 cases that also involve oripavine and morphine. Requests for the lifting of the provisional suspension in each case were originally denied by the tribunal, but sufficient evidence was subsequently gathered to show that all three cases were highly likely to involve contamination and the FEI promptly sought the lifting of the provisional suspensions. All three provisional suspensions were simultaneously lifted by the FEI Tribunal on Dec. 19.
Oripavine is an opioid analgesic that is not used clinically due to its very narrow therapeutic margin and extremely high toxicity levels. Oripavine positives are frequently the result of poppy seed ingestion. Codeine and morphine, both of which are found in poppy seeds, are also analgesics.
Due to increasing evidence of poppy seed contamination resulting in positives, the FEI downgraded morphine from a banned substance to controlled medication in 2013. Among a number of proposed changes to the Equine Prohibited Substances List due to come into effect on Jan. 1, 2016, codeine is listed for a similar downgrading to controlled medication.
Guerdat released a statement in response: “Steve Guerdat and his team were surprised by this announcement and deeply saddened by this news. For the rider and the horses’ owners, the top priority has always been the welfare of their horses. The Olympic champion is recognized throughout the equestrian world for his excellent management and the great respect he has for his horses.
“Steve Guerdat personally contacted his team, owners and sponsors and they give him full support. The Olympic champion will now devote all his efforts in the search of the cause of the food contamination. Steve Guerdat is confident he can deliver convincing explanations, in view of the previous cases recalled by the FEI.”
