In January we were informing about not clear situation of World Endurance Championships (Dubai, 27.01.2005) final results.
First place was taken there by the horse Hachim and rider HH Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (UAE) however the Organizing Committee didn’t invite the winner to the Official Award Ceremony as the analysis of the urine sample taken from Hachim revealed the presence of Methylprednisolone – an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid acting on the locomotor system.
On 28 April 2005, the FEI Judicial Committee decided the positive medication case concerning the horse Hachim and rider HH Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan..
Analysis of the urine sample taken from Hachim, conducted by the associate Laboratory of the FEI Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Equine Forensic Unit (UAE), revealed the presence of Methylprednisolone, which is a prohibited substance according to FEI Rules.
A confirmatory analysis was requested by the Person Responsible (PR) and was performed by the FEI approved central laboratory, Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques, France, on 24 March 2005. This analysis confirmed the presence of Methylprednisolone.
However the PR was not duly informed of the date and place of the confirmatory analysis (B Sample) and was therefore unable to send a witnessing analyst to the laboratory, despite having requested the opportunity to be represented.
While noting the existence of two positive results, the Judicial Committee nevertheless decided that the fact that the PR did not have the opportunity to have a witness present at the confirmatory analysis compromised his rights to such an extent that the results had to be disregarded. The Judicial Committee cited several relevant decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in reaching its ruling, which terminates the proceedings.
Consequently, the results of the FEI World Endurance Championship remain unchanged as published on the FEI website. The FEI Secretariat will ensure that HH Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan will receive the Gold medal and all relevant prizes won by him. The Judicial Committee is not ordering a new Official Award Ceremony to be held.
After FEI official website
AFEI
