France face disqualification from Rio 2016 eventing after horse fails test

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Friday, 05 September 2014
By Gary Anderson

Qalao de Mers, ridden by Frenchman Maxime Livio has tested positive for a banned medical substance in Normandy and could miss out on Rio 2016 ©AFP/Getty ImagesThe French eventing team faces the prospect of being thrown out of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after Qalao de Mers, ridden by Maxime Livio, tested positive for a banned medical substance at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has confirmed the horse, part of the French team that finished fourth in the team eventing competition ensuring qualification for Rio 2016, tested positive for the controlled medication substance acepromazine, banned during competition.

The sedative was found after a sample was taken from Qalao de Mers last Friday (August 29), who also partnered Livio to fifth in the individual competition.

The case is now set to go before an FEI Tribunal - on a date yet to be announced - but if found guilty then the French team and Maxime Livio will be disqualified from the World Equestrian Games and will also be banned from competing at Rio 2016.

The FEI also revealed a second horse tested positive for a prohibited medical substance on August 28.

Tra Flama, ridden by South African Giliese de Villiers in the endurance competition, returned a positive reading for phenylbutazone and its metabolite oxyphenbutazone...

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http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/equestrian/1022390-france-face-disqualification-from-rio-2016-eventing-competition-after-controlled-substance-found-at-world-equestrian-games