?GOLDEN? Decisions ?. (?)
January 2005
On Thursday, January 27, HH Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nayan (UAE) won the FEI Endurance World Championship 2005, 160 km in Dubai. He was riding Hachim, FEI Passport No ESP 02734.
The MCP (Medication Control Programme) Team selected Hachim for sampling as well as 9 other horses participating in the championship.
Friday, January 28: Gulfnews praised Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nayan?s ?golden decision? to switch horses shortly before the championship. He was supposed to ride Shahdon, formerly ridden by two-time world champion Valerie Kanavy. Instead he opted for Hachim, the horse he rode to victory in Bahrain. The championship was ? according to Gulfnews and Khaleej Times ? the first-ever 160 km ride for Hachim.
Saturday, January 29: About 15 minutes before the official prize giving ceremony, held at Lisaili Fort off the Dubai-Al Ain highway, the French Team was informed that 2nd placed Barbara Lissarague/ Georgat will be declared the individual winner of the FEI World Endurance Championship instead of Sheik Hazza, because traces of performance enhancing drugs seem to have been found in the sampling of his horse Hachim.
Sheik Hazza, who was present for the closing ceremony, left midway after being informed about this decision (according to gulfnews).
Barbara Lissarague/ Georgat (FRA) was then awarded the gold medal and declared world champion.
[More ...]
No comments:
Post a Comment