Tales of the Unexpected in Doping Proposals for 2021

HorseSport.com - Full Article

A less draconian approach to recreational drugs but tougher penalties for deliberate horse doping are among possible changes to the 2021 rules.

Athletes who can prove their recreational drug use was not related to sport and was taken out-of-competition can receive a three-month (or less) sanction under the new proposals, instead of the previous year ban.

By Cuckson Report // Pippa Cuckson | May 6, 2020

Do you agree that the minimum suspension for a doping offence should be doubled to four years? Is it time for a less draconian stance over recreational drugs and contamination? While the world is in limbo over Covid-19, there is a real chance for all stakeholders to refresh knowledge of the Equine Anti Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs) and also the human athlete rules.

Moreover, until May 11 you can have a say about how these rules could look from January 2021. They are being overhauled right now, in tandem with the periodic revision of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) code, to which the FEI is a signatory.

In the past the FEI has invited public comment over major rule revisions after airing them at its annual April sports forum, before the statutory consultation of national federations begins. But at the start of a busy season only a handful of riders usually respond. Following the 2020 forum’s cancellation, the FEI has put all anti-doping discussion documents online, with instructions about how to submit your comments. Judging from some of the excuses/defences/reasons proffered in Tribunal cases, most riders have a sketchy understanding of this huge topic, despite its facility to kibosh a career...

Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/cuckson-report-1/tales-unexpected-doping-proposals-2021/

The endurance household name the Toft family

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

Info@endurance-world.com
4th May 2020

The ‘Toft name’ has been present in the horse endurance world for more than two decades.

We felt it was about time to present the Toft family. The complete Toft Family ; Peter Toft – father, Penny Toft – mumsie, Alexandra Toft – daughter, 150 + horses, 5 dogs, 44 guinea fowl, Birt the bird and Salem the cat.

Who is riding in the family?
All three of us people.

What are you activities and tell us about your facilities
We breed, train, compete, trade and export horses.
Toft Endurance is a magnificent property at Marburg, Queensland, Australia. There are big paddocks, small paddocks, yards, stable barn, two horse walkers, treadmill, three arenas for education and training, a round yard for young horse breakers, trucks and feed sheds, quarantine facilities, a training track and local trails for exercise and more serious training in the mountains...

Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/the-endurance-household-name-the-toft-family/

Three-year doping ban for Oman rider among latest FEI Tribunal decisions

Insidethegames.biz - Full Article

By Liam Morgan
Monday, 27 April 2020

Endurance rider Said Al Balushi of Oman has been banned for three years by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Tribunal after two of his horses tested positive for a prohibited substance.

The sanction from the FEI Tribunal is one of seven final decisions rendered in doping cases, while it has also suspended an athlete for horse abuse.

Al Balushi has been hit with an extended suspension from the sport, and will not be able to return until February 2022, after two horses he rode in December 2018 failed drugs tests.

Samples taken from Kekmadar and Si Quilombo following events in the United Arab Emirates were both found to have contained arsenic...

Read more here:
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1093647/fei-tribunal-decisions-seven-doping-case

A Look Back: Spain's 2008 Al Andalus 10-day Endurance Ride - Part III: Registration and a Prologue

March 27, 2008
by Steph Teeter

Today was registration, vetting, and the 10km prolog. Very very busy at registration - so much to do, everybody worked really hard and got it done, more or less on schedule. The meetings were a bit late (Spanish time... actually Andalucia time which is even more relaxed than Spanish time) but they all got done, more or less. It's very difficult for me to understand Spanish when people talk conversationally. I can read pretty well, and can handle short sentence dialog, but the meetings were absolutely impossible. So Merri and I have no idea what was said at any of the briefings, but it was still fun to be there. I love the Spanish people! So warm and friendly, and Andalucia seems to be the best of the best in Spain. Might have something to do with the warm sunny climate too. But so far, it's great to be here.



Paco and his group didn't arrive until around 4pm - still transporting van and horses and picking up an RV for Madonna and Paul - and he's been on the road for the last two days and was totally exhausted. (But still smiling). We didn't have time to saddle up and join the rest of the group for the 10km 'prologue' around the track (it's actually a horse racing stadium, not a soccer stadium) - but we managed to get the horses vetted in and took them for our own little 6km prologue after everybody else had finished and the track was cleared off.



I'll be riding a nice bay mare 'Arenales' - 8 yrs, not very experienced (she has done 1 80km ride) but kind and fairly level headed. Paco is riding his stallion. He will ride tomorrow. I'll be on a team with Pepe Lopez - we're both #19 and will ride alternate days. Pepe will ride tomorrow, and I'll ride on Day 2, and so on. He has a good experienced horse and will ride pretty fast, I have a less advanced horse so will ride conservatively - and we'll see what kind of combined time we have by the end of the ride!



Up very early in the morning - to go to the hippodrome and then transport horses a few miles away to where the first day will begin.

more later- (so many details, so little time to write!)

Steph

______

Part I: The Travels is here

Part II: Preparations is here

FEI Tribunal issues Final Decisions, 7 in Endurance

Inside.FEI.org

April 22 2020

The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decisions in seven cases involving Prohibited Substances and one horse abuse case.

The first case involves the horse Sohair Des Bruyere (FEI ID 104VK62/QAT), ridden by Elizaveta Minina (FEI ID 10140497/RUS), which tested positive for the Banned Substance Testosterone following samples taken at the CEI2* in Doha, Mesaieed (QAT) on 20 January 2018. On 15 March 2018 the trainer Hassan Khamis Mohammed A Al Shahwani (FEI ID 10131286/QAT) admitted the use of Testosterone on the horse following a suggestion from a veterinarian.

A Final Tribunal Decision on the case against the athlete was issued on 25 October 2019, but separate proceedings were initiated against the trainer. The FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached on 24 February 2020 between the FEI and the trainer, under which the trainer would be suspended for 22 months instead of the standard two-year ineligibility period due to prompt admission of the substance being administered. The period of ineligibility was ruled to run from the date of notification (23 April 2018) until 22 February 2020. The trainer was ordered to pay a fine of CHF 7,500 and the legal costs of CHF 1,500.

The second case involves the horse Orient Akhmin (FEI ID 104WR20/UAE), ridden by Adel Mohd Ali Al Housani (FEI ID 10055482/UAE), which tested positive for the Banned Substance Testosterone following sample collection at the CEI1* in Abu Dhabi, Al Wathba (UAE) on 27 October 2018...

Read more here:
https://inside.fei.org/content/fei-tribunal-issues-final-decisions-2

A Woman, Her Horse, and a Dream

NorthernExpress.com - Full Article

PETOSKEY NATIVE WITH MINIMAL HORSE-RACE EXPERIENCE IS TRAINING FOR THE TOUGHEST HORSE RACE IN THE WORLD.

BY AL PARKER | APRIL 18, 2020

Aleta Daniels is prepping for what she calls a “soul-shaking” adventure.

The former Petoskey resident is training for the Ride the Wild Coast endurance horse race in South Africa, a 370-kilometer (230 miles) trek across some of the most rugged territory in the world.

Long-distance horse racing is growing internationally, and the RTWC, launched 2016, is said to be the world's toughest. That’s exactly as its founders intended. Blending the spirit of the frontiersman (and frontierswomen) and the modern horseback adventurer, the race is a test of horsemanship, survival, stamina, and navigational skills across an iconic wilderness...

Read more here:
https://www.northernexpress.com/news/feature/a-woman-her-horse-and-a-dream/

Oman: FEI Tribunal Issues Record Fine, 3-year ban in Arsenic Case

HorseSport.com - Full Article

The FEI Tribunal said there was a clear pattern to the arsenic use, and drew ‘adverse inference’ from the Omani rider’s failure to respond.

By: Pippa Cuckson | April 14, 2020

An Omani endurance rider has been handed a three-year suspension and FEI record fine of 10,000 Swiss francs ($14,475 CAD) by the FEI Tribunal after two different horses tested positive to arsenic on consecutive weekends.

Said al Balushi’s ride Kekmadar (trainer: Rashed Suhail al Darbi, UAE) was sampled at in the CE1* 100 at Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi on December 8, 2018, with Si Quilombo (trainer: Joynal Abedin, Bangladesh/UAE) sampled on December 15, 2018, also at Al Wathba.

Save for requesting a test of the B sample, the rider did not respond to any communications from the FEI or provide a written explanation for the presence of the banned substance, from which Tribunal member Cesar Torrente, sitting as a panel of one, drew an “adverse inference.”

The FEI legal department had recommended a two-year suspension and 7,500 Swiss franc fine, but the Tribunal said tougher penalties were justified...

Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/horse-news/three-year-ban-record-fine-endurance-arsenic-offences/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Eric+Lamaze++Unbridled++%7C+Major+Nations+Cup+Rule+Update+%7C+Double+Bridles&utm_campaign=HS-Enewsletter2019-Friday-April+17%2C+2020