Drugs breach: Asking if a horse is “fine” is not enough, says tribunal

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

March 17, 2019 Horsetalk.co.nz

A student who rode an unfamiliar mount in a 100km endurance ride in Qatar in April 2017 has been suspended and fined after the horse failed a drug test.

Abdul Rahman Hamad S H Juma told the FEI Tribunal that the first time he rode the horse was only a few hours before the CEI1* race in Doha.

The student, who rides only in his spare time, rode the Qatar-registered horse Next in Line Grangeway in the event. He said he had been told beforehand that the horse was fine.

The horse was selected for sampling and tested positive for acepromazine and its metabolic byproduct, hydroxyethylpromazine sulphoxide. They are tranquilisers used for sedation and dilation of blood vessels.

Both are listed as controlled medications under the FEI’s anti-doping rules.

Juma submitted a statement from the owner and trainer of the horse, Turki Misfer AL Hababi.

AL Hababi confirmed that he was responsible for the failed drug test, and stressed that Juma had not ridden or trained the horse previously.

Juma told the tribunal that he had never ridden for AL Habibi either before or after the event. He was just asked to come for the ride, was told the horse was fine, and that was all...

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https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/03/17/drugs-breach-horse-fine-tribunal/