Olympic dressage champion Werth gets six-month ban for doping
Published Wednesday September 2nd, 2009
LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Five-time Olympic dressage champion Isabell Werth was banned for six months Wednesday after her horse failed a doping test.
The International Equestrian Federation said that Werth was responsible for her horse Whisper's positive test for fluphenazine at an event in Wiesbaden, Germany, in May. The anti-psychotic drug controls aggression in humans and is not licensed for use on horses.
"I am glad the decision is finally there," Werth told the German news agency DPA, adding that she can now concentrate on her pregnancy, which she announced in July. "That a punishment would come was clear. The question was only whether it would last four, five, six or more months."
The FEI says Werth is suspended through Dec. 22, but will not be barred from the 2012 London Olympics.
Her suspension is one day within the limit that triggers an automatic ban under International Olympic Committee rules.
Werth won individual dressage gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games, and her fourth team gold with Germany in Beijing. She also has three Olympic silver medals.
The 40-year-old rider was provisionally suspended in June and issued a statement that her horse suffered from a nervous disorder known as shivering syndrome.
In its ruling, the FEI said Werth acknowledged the presence of fluphenazine, but said she followed advice that it would clear her horse's system in time to compete.
However, the FEI's tribunal panel said it was "quite shocking" that Werth's vet - Hans-Georg Stihl - believed the drug would not be detected six days after use.
It said the drug, which has a calming effect suitable for dressage horses, is "clearly banned by the prevailing doping rules."
"This medication has no place in the performance horse close to competition owing to its potent mind altering effects," said John McEwen, chair of the FEI's veterinary committee.
Its illegal use was highly publicized when Irish rider Cian O'Connor was stripped of his gold medal in show jumping at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the ruling noted.
The case is the latest in a series of doping incidents surrounding the German Olympic equestrian team, which was officially disbanded in May.
"The punishment is in line with similar cases," said Soenke Lauterbach, the general secretary of Germany's equestrian federation. "The case is classified as doping. That also corresponds to our understanding, so we accept the verdict."
Werth was also ordered to pay 3,500 Swiss francs (C$3,625) in fine and costs. She can appeal the verdict to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Disabled
Search Articles
More CE Network Sites & Partners:
