Equestrian Horses Victims In Cruel Doping Practice
Newcastle Herald
Saturday August 23, 2008
THE Olympic equestrian competition in Hong Kong was rocked by a doping scandal involving a practice that is particularly cruel to horses.
Four horses tested positive to capsaicin, which is used to hypersensitise the forelocks and encourages the horses to lift their legs, an advantage in the showjumping events.Norwegian horse Camiro, ridden by Tony Andre Hansen, was one of the horses which tested positive. The Norwegian team's showjumping bronze medal may be redistributed pending the results of the B-sample testing.It appears likely that Switzerland, who finished fourth in the teams event, will be upgraded to bronze. Australia were ninth.The other horses involved in the scandal were Lantinus, ridden by Ireland's Dennis Lynch, Chupa Cup (Brazilian Bernardo Alves) and Coster (German Christian Ahlmann).Hansen, Lynch and Alves were prevented from contesting the individual showjumping final on Thursday night, but Ahlmann was entered.Australia's Olympics boss, John Coates, said: "I know the international equestrian federation takes this seriously. It relates to the cruelty aspect rather than any performance-enhancing impact."The drug is rubbed on as a gel.Australia's equestrian campaign ended when Edwina Alexander, Matt Williams, and Laurie Lever finished well out of medal contention in the jumping final.
© 2008 Newcastle Herald
