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Federation
Equestre Internationale News
12
November 2003
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-
Judicial Committee decides on Rusty
- FEI World Cup Jumping Verona
- FEI World Cup Dressage next event in Berlin
- Preview CSI 4* Paris
- FEI World Cup Eventing
- 2006 World Equestrian Games press conference
- Trophy Maroc Equestre
FEI JUDICIAL COMMITTEE DECIDES ON RUSTY
The Judicial Committee of the FEI has today issued its decision
in the medication control case involving the horse Rusty 47 and
the rider, Ulla Salzgeber (GER) (the "PR"), submitted
to the Judicial Committee for decision on October 23 2003. The
complete decision of the Judicial Committee was submitted to the
parties and shall be published in due course. The PR has 30 days
to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sports.
Rusty 47 was selected for sampling at CDI-W Final Göteborg
(SWE) on 28 March 2003. Analysis of the urine and blood conducted
by LAB, the FEI's approved central laboratory, revealed the presence
of Testosterone above the threshold level. A confirmatory analysis
has not been requested.
Testosterone is the principal endogenous androgenic-anabolic steroid
in horses and men. It is used for therapeutic purposes but can
also be abused. Testosterone is a prohibited substance pursuant
to Article 1013 and Annex IV of the Veterinary Regulations of
the FEI.
The evidence revealed that 13 days before the start of CDI-W Final
Göteborg, the PR's veterinarian had administered RUSTY 47
25 mg Testosterone Propionate to treat an assumed hormonal imbalance
in Rusty that may have caused patchy hair loss. The veterinarian
had not made this fact known to either the veterinarian of the
German NF or to the PR. The Judicial Committee accepts that the
PR did no know that Rusty 47 had undergone any treatment prior
to the event.
The Judicial Committee is satisfied that the complete LAB reports
supported by the evidence of the Director of the Drug Surveillance
Group at HFL Newmarket reflect that the tests were accurately
performed in an acceptable method and that the findings of LAB
are accurate and show the presence of the prohibited substance,
Testosterone, at a level which exceeds the threshold level for
geldings of 20 ng/ml.
The Judicial Committee is also satisfied that the internationally
acknowledged threshold levels for Testosterone in geldings and
mares as established by the international racing authorities and
adopted by the FEI Veterinary Committee for FEI events and included
in the FEI Veterinary Regulations since 1988 are supported by
analytical research and were not arbitrarily established.
The Judicial Committee determines that the various minor procedural
irregularities highlighted by the PR's counsel cannot reasonably
be considered to have affected the results of what is a valid
test and should, therefore, only be taken into consideration in
the determination of the sanctions and imposition of costs.
The Judicial Committee determines that the PR has not taken any
intentional action to deliberately affect the performance of the
horse. The PR had established a system that was supposed to make
treatments transparent and disclosed. According to the PRs statements,
the PR's veterinarian has not followed such procedures in the
present case. There is no evidence in this case that the PR had
actual knowledge of the treatment given to Rusty 47 by her veterinarian.
There is also no evidence that Rusty received a specific competitive
advantage as a result of the administration of the prohibited
substance which - according to the PR's vet - was connected to
a legitimate
medical procedure.
Nevertheless, the PR has failed to ensure that Rusty has no prohibited
substances in its systems during an international event. Since
this is a strict liability offense that does not require intent
or even specific knowledge, the PR did not comply with General
Regulations Art. 146 and RUSTY 47 with its rider, Ulla Salzgeber,
must be disqualified from the event and that all prizes and prize
money won at the event must be forfeited in accordance with GR
174.7.1.
The FEI has a strict liability policy or no-fault system which
means that no intention is required in order to establish a doping
offence. The mere presence of a prohibited substance in the horse's
systems is sufficient. Additionally, The FEI is not required to
demonstrate any competitive advantage to the PR resulting from
the presence of the drug. The intent and competitive advantage
issues are only taken into consideration in the determination
of the sanctions to be imposed. This system of strict liability
has been reconfirmed time and again and it must prevail when sporting
fairness to all competitors is at stake.
Under the FEI judicial system the competitor, as the person responsible,
is responsible for all matters relating to his or her mount, including
competing on horses which are "drug free". It is similarly
the responsibility of competitors to inform themselves of all
substances fed or administered to horses which are destined for
participation in international events and to ensure that such
horses do not have any prohibited substances in their systems
or that such treatments are disclosed prior to the start of
the competition and authorized in advance.
Competitors should, therefore, seek information and should discuss
all treatments with owners, veterinarians and other caretakers
of all horses which are destined for participation in international
events in order to avoid contravening FEI rules and regulations.
Procedures aimed at ensuring that such information is fully disclosed
must be established by all competitors and the expectation is
that competitors that compete at the highest levels of the sport
should have an established system that would
prevent even an inadvertent unauthorized medication of a horse
participating in international events.
The Judicial Committee does take into account the facts that the
PR did not have actual knowledge of the treatment, did establish
a mechanism to learn ahead of international events regarding such
treatments, did not clearly obtain competitive advantage, has
a blameless record as an international rider and the hardship
caused to the PR as a result of the delays and procedural mistakes
and therefore determines that there should be no suspension in
this case despite the type of drug and its grade. In
accordance with General Regulations Art. 174.7.3 the Person Responsible
is fined CHF 2,500.-
The Judicial Committee has taken into consideration the incomplete
documentation initially provided to PR's counsel and has limited
the costs payable to the FEI by the PR towards the costs of the
judicial procedure, in accordance with General Regulations Art.
174.12, to CHF 1,000.-.
It should be emphasized that, in deciding against the PR and imposing
the penalties, the Judicial Committee is not claiming that the
PR knew about the treatment, authorized it or received any advantage
as a result thereof. Therefore, the PR's prominent reputation
must stay unaffected. Nevertheless, this case should again emphasize
the vital importance of medication control and the need for all
caretakers to be conservative in their assessments and more importantly
to report to the PR all treatments and allow the PR to make the
required determination whether to enter the horse in an international
event or request an authorization to compete despite a prior treatment.
This
is the system established by the FEI which is aimed at establishing
fair and equal conditions for competitors.
FEI WORLD CUP JUMPING
VICTORY AT VERONA FOR NIEBERG
LANSINK NOW CHALLENGES FOR WORLD CUP SERIES LEAD
Germany's Lars Nieberg stood on the winners podium at the third
leg of the FEI World Cup series in Verona today after a perfectly-measured
victory with Loreana earned him the maximum 20 points.
However Belgium's Jos Lansink, who slotted into third place with
a double-clear from AK Caridor Z, is now stalking league leader
Eric Van der Vleuten as he lies just one point behind on the leaderboard.
Van der Vleuten did not travel to Verona so this left the door
wide open, particularly for Robert Smith who had been lying in
second position, but despite excellent results for the British
rider during the early stages of the Italian fixture he failed
to capitalise on his win in Oslo when lowering two fences in the
opening round today with Marius Claudius.
Course-designer Olaf Petersen set them a tough first-round test,
and the line from fences four to six proved consistently difficult.
Many of the horses disliked the look of the half-moon wall at
fence four and stood off it, consequently struggling to make the
distances to the next two fences.
Just six riders went through to the jump-off and Jos Lansink led
the way with a careful clear to set the target in 46.65 seconds.
Reynald Angot then followed for France with Dollar de la Pierre,
shaving almost seven seconds of that when returning clear in 39.09
seconds.
America's Peter Wylde and Lauriston had two fences down at their
second attempt while Germany's Marco Kutscher and Montender made
just a single mistake but Lars Nieberg and Loreana never touched
a pole as they galloped home in 37.47 seconds to snatch the lead.
"Reynald had been very fast and I knew that Rodrigo was following
me so I had to be very quick" Lars said afterwards. Few riders
like to be followed into the ring by Rodrigo Pessoa but the 14
year old Baloubet du Rouet, winner of Friday's Preliminary competition,
left two fences on the floor and the Brazilian ace had to settle
for fifth place ahead of Wylde while Kutscher slotted into fourth,
Lansink into third and Angot took runner-up position.
The Verona result brings some significant changes to the FEI World
Cup leaderboard as Lars slots into fifth position behind Robert
Smith who has dropped to fourth. Marco Kutscher earned 13 additional
points to promote himself from equal-10th up to third position
while Jos Lansink is now just one point behind Eric Van der Vleuten
with a total of 32 points to date.
The action now moves to Berlin next weekend, and Lars is hoping
to consolidate his position with another good performance on his
home ground.
For information on Berlin, venue for the fourth leg of the 2003/2004
FEI World Cup Jumping series, you can visit www.reitturnier-chi-berlin.de.
RESULT: 1, Loreana (Lars Nieberg) Ger 0/0 37.47; 2, Dollar de
la Pierre (Reynald Angot) Fra 0/0; 3, AK Caridor Z (Jos Lansink)
Bel 0/0 46.65; 4, Montender (Marco Kutscher) Ger 0/4 38.72; 5,
Baloubet du Rouet (Rodrigo Pessoa) Bra 0/8 38.80; 6, Lauriston
(Peter Wylde) USA 0/8 40.02; Equal 7, Non Plus Ultra (Antonis
Petris) Gre 4, Jamiro (Rolf Goran Bengtsson) Swe 4, Clinton (Dirk
Demeersman) Bel 4, Arko (Nick Skelton) GB 4, Albin 111 (Juan Carlos
Garcia) Ita 4, Shutterfly (Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum) Ger 4,
Dobel's Cento (Otto Becker) Ger 4, De Sjiem (Jeroen Dubbeldam)
Hol 4, Pro Pilot 11 (Edouard Couperie) Fra 4, Camirez B (Toni
Hassmann) Ger 4.
THE TOP-TEN ON THE LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 3 AT VERONA:
Eric Van der Vleuten - 33
Jos Lansink - 32
Marco Kutscher - 25
Robert Smith - 21
Lars Nieberg - 20
Jeroen Dubbeldam - 19
Malin Baryard - 18
Eq. 8. Helena Weinberg / Reynald Angot - 17
Eq. 10. Richard Davenport / Bruno Broucqsault - 15.
PREVIEW INTERNATIONAL SHOW JUMPING OF PARIS
The International Show Jumping of Paris, one of France's only
two four-star indoor Jumping events, will take place from 28 to
30 November. Some 110 horses and riders representing some 12 nations
will gather in the French capital to take part in Against the
Clock, Two-Phase, Gradual Difficulties and Grand Prix competitions
the prize-money for which is no less than EUR 182 940.
This year's show, placed under the patronage of Caroline of Hanover
and her daughter Charlotte Casiraghi, both of whom are keen riders,
will go beyond the mere sports performance. On Sunday 30 November,
12 autistic children, aged between 5 and 8 and assisted in their
physical and educational development by local associations, will
take part in the opening of the Grand Prix wearing the colours
of the attending nations. They will make their entrance on horseback.
Each child will be supported by an
international rider. This exhibition is organised in order to
raise public awareness about horse-riding as a way for children
and adults suffering from development handicaps and neurological
troubles to improve their mobility, their communication skills
and understanding of the three-dimensional space. The public will
be encouraged to make donations at the end of the show.
Please check the event's website http://www.salon-cheval.com/csi/index.htm
for further information.
FEI WORLD CUP DRESSAGE
The first World Cup Dressage of the Western European League will
take place this week-end in Berlin (GER).
Website Berlin CDI-W : www.reitturnier-chi-berlin.de.
POLISH RIDER ANDRZEJ PASEK WINS FIRST LEG OF 2004 FEI EVENTING
WORLD CUP IN NICHELINO (ITA)
Poland's Andrzej Pasek, 29, won the opening leg of the FEI Eventing
World Cup's second season riding the 9-year old chestnut gelding
Redan (owned by Erika Ratti). Despite the heavy rain, deep mud
and generally appalling weather conditions, he took the lead from
the very beginning scoring a remarkable 39.10 points (73.91%)
after Dressage. He went clear in Jumping and had neither fence
nor time penalties in the Cross Country. This performance is all
the more remarkable as Pasek placed 2nd in the two-star event
riding Bujwid delle Ombre. Andrzej, who currently trains in Italy
preparing for next year's Olympic Games in Athens, is a regular
visitor at Nichelino, where he competed last year placing 18th
in the World Cup class and winning the two-star competition.
Second on the winners' podium is Marie Christine Duroy of France,
riding the 13-old gelding Selle-Français Crazy Love and
who, like Pasek, added to further penalties to the 43.40 points
she had earned after Dressage (71.09 %). Marie Christine is one
of the world's most experienced Eventing riders who has been competing
for over 30 years and was on the French team which took the 4th
place at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Italy's own Fabio Magni on Loro Piana Vent d'Arade and Marissa
Cortesi of Switzerland on Peppermint III came in equal 3rds with
49.60. Magni, currently 74th of the FEI Eventing Riders' Rankings,
is Italy's reigning national champion and Marissa won the same
title in her country in 2000 and 2001.
The remarkable result (51.50) of the Japanese rider Yoshiaki Oiwa,
27, on Voyou du Roc should be given special notice. With 7 min
25 he performed the competition's second best Cross Country, 0.4
seconds better than the winner, and scored a clear Jumping round.
This is Oiwa's best result ever in a three-star competition.
47 of the 70 starters completed the competition.
The next qualifier of the FEI Eventing World Cup will take place
from 12 through 14 March 2004 at Tallahassee, FL (USA).
2006 FEI WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES
1000-day countdown
On 26 November, the 1000-day countdown will start for the 2006
FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen (GER) which will take place
from 22 August to 3 September 2006. On this occasion, a press
conference will be organised at 18:30 in the "Klangbrücke
des Alten Kurshauses" in Aachen to present the sports programme,
the planned building measures and the financial aspects of the
project. The German Federal Minister of Interior, Mr Otto Schily
will be in attendance.
4TH TROPHY OF MAROC EQUESTRE
The Moroccan Magazine "Maroc Equestre" is organising
a Gala evening on 19 November 2003 at the Hotel Hilton of Rabat
(MAR). The best riders and horses of Morocco will be awarded during
a ceremony that will be chaired by HRH Princess Lalla Amina, President
of the Royal Equestrian Federation of Morocco.
www.horsesport.org
.
