Bahrain has been stripped of its world endurance team gold medal after one of its horses tested positive for an anabolic steroid at the re-scheduled championships in Butheeb, UAE, (20–26 February).

Hera Durances, ridden by Abdulrahman Mohammed Alzayed, was found to have the banned substance stanozolol and its metabolite 16-beta-hydroxystanozolo inl her system. These are anabolic steroids used to improve performance by promoting muscular development.

FEI anti-doping rules state that banned substances have “no legitimate use in the competition horse and/or have a high potential for abuse” and “are not permitted for use in the competition horse at any time”.

The horse was disqualified, so the Bahraini team no longer had three counting scores. This means the world team title has been reallocated to France, Portugal takes team silver and Italy bronze.

“While it is never optimal to have medals redistributed following an event due to medication control and anti-doping-related offences, we view this as confirmation that the systems we have in place are thorough and effective”, said FEI legal director Mikael Rentsch.

“The FEI’s clean sport programme has extensive processes to ensure we not only educate the community, but also have the tools to follow up and uphold the rules at play in order to guarantee a level playing field, and safeguard the welfare of our human and equine athletes.”

The rider, Abdulrahman Mohammed Alzayed, and trainer, Muhammad Abbas Khalid, both “explicitly admitted” the rule violation, according to their FEI Tribunal consent awards. Their admissions meant that their bans were both reduced by six months.

This means both were given an 18-month period of ineligibility (suspension), instead of two years. They were each fined CHF5,000 (£4,435) and ordered to pay CHF1,000 for the B-sample testing.

The horse, Hera Durances, was provisionally suspended for two months from 20 March, which the 11-year-old mare has now served and is back competing, finishing second at a ride this month with another rider.

H&H has approached the Bahraini and French federations for comment.

A statement confirming the new result on the French federation website said: “France, which had won gold at the World Equestrian Games in 1994, 2002 and 2006 and finished 2nd in 2010 and 2014, confirms its position as the leading nation in the discipline and has once again demonstrated its irreproachable team spirit, which has allowed to win this new world title.”

A spokesman for campaign group Clean Endurance told H&H it “finds it deeply regrettable that yet again endurance is sullied by a doping case at a major championship”.

“Although we are satisfied with the FEI’s due process which led to the Bahrain team gold medal being rescinded, we very much regret that team France did not get the highest podium on the day,” said the spokesman.

“Their team-based ‘to finish is to win’ strategy, as well as their horsemanship, comforted many endurance stakeholders in their belief that our sport could still have a future.”

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Bahrain may lose its world team gold medal after one of its horses tested positive for an anabolic steroid.

The 11-year-old mare Hera Durances, ridden by Abdulrahman Mohammed Alzayed and trained by Muhammad Abbas Khalid, tested positive for the banned substance stanozolol and its metabolite 16-beta-hydroxystanozolol. The positive finding came following samples taken at the FEI Endurance World Championship in Butheeb, UAE (20 to 26 February).

Hera Durances finished 18th individually, so any ramifications will not impact the individual medals. But her score counted towards Bahrain’s team total. And as only three of the five-strong team produced counting scores, if she is disqualified, the team will lose its medal.

At present, France holds team silver, with Portugal in bronze and Italy fourth.

The FEI clean sport database states that although anabolic steroids have been used in instances with “bona fide medical intent, [they] have also been used illicitly in equine sports to attempt to improve performance, mainly due to their effect of promoting muscular development”.

“The use of anabolic steroids long term, or at high doses carries significant risks,” it adds.

Stanozolol is listed as a banned substance, which means it is defined by the FEI as having “no legitimate use in the competition horse and/or have a high potential for abuse”. The FEI states that banned substances “are not permitted for use in the competition horse at any time”.

An FEI spokesman told H&H: “The athlete, as well as the trainer, have provisionally been suspended as of 20 March 2023. Both now have 20 days to get back to the FEI. The horse has also been provisionally suspended until 19 May 2023.”

She added: “While the proceedings are ongoing the FEI cannot provide any further information.”

H&H has attempted to contact the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation for comment.

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Safety concerns force 11th-hour cancellation of World Endurance Championships

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Italy is bidding to retain its position as host of the 2022 endurance World Championships after the plug was pulled weeks ahead of the scheduled event.

This year’s championships were set to be held in Verona from 19 to 23 October, but were cancelled in September as the safety of horses and riders “could not be guaranteed” (news, 15 September).

“This was not a decision we took lightly, as we fully understand the ramifications it will have, but we had to take our responsibilities and respect the assessment of our technical experts,” FEI president Ingmar De Vos said at the time.

The FEI reopened the bidding, and has extended the cut-off date for the 2022 championships to be held to 30 April 2023.

Six venues are in the mix, with a decision due in November. These are: Bouthib in the United Arab Emirates (between 26 and 29 January or 20 and 26 February); the French venue of Fontainebleau (25 March); Lisbon in Portugal (between 31 March and 1 April); Punta del Este in Uruguay (22 April); Samorin in Slovakia (29 April); or keeping the event on Italian soil in Pisa (29 April).

Italia Endurance asd and Sistemaeventi.it srl, the same organising committee that hosted the 2021 World Championships in Pisa, has put its hat in the ring to take on the rescheduled 2022 fixture, with a view to running it again at the Pisa San Rossore racecourse.

Gianluca Laliscia, chief executive and chairman of Sistemaventi.it srl, said they have the “full support of the Italian Equestrian Federation”.

“It is our objective to create a very environmentally friendly and eco-sustainable event, such as the one hosted in 2021,” he said.

Mr Laliscia added the venue offers an “already tested” track, excellent infrastructure, technical services and an expert organising committee.

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Safety concerns for horses and riders have led to the plug being pulled on the FEI Endurance World Championships at the 11th hour.

The FEI has reopened the bid process for the 2022 championships after terminating the agreement with the Verona organising committee with less than six weeks to go. The 2022 championships were originally set to be held from 19 to 23 October, but the FEI has now extended the time-frame within which the event can be held to 30 April 2023.

“This was not a decision we took lightly, as we fully understand the ramifications it will have, but we had to take our responsibilities and respect the assessment of our technical experts,” said FEI president Ingmar De Vos.

“We waited until now, because we had genuinely hoped that the issues that had been previously raised with the organising committee would have been resolved following several site visits and meetings, but unfortunately, this was not the case. To cancel earlier would have been premature, and to cancel any later would have been even more disruptive.”

Mr De Vos added there is “no doubt a lot of hard work and commitment” went into planning the event, from the organising committee, the FEI and experts.

“This is really unfortunate for everyone involved but if the experts are of the opinion that the safety of the athletes – both human and equine – cannot be guaranteed, the [FEI] board has no other option but to follow their recommendations,” he said.

The FEI board confirmed the termination of the host agreement in a teleconference yesterday (8 September). This followed FEI concerns over track readiness, athlete safety and the lack of detailed planning schedules in the lead-up to the championship, which was conveyed to the Verona organising committee on 26 August. The committee was given 10 days to remedy the situation and address issues raised.

The board reviewed information from the organising committee, plus feedback from technical delegates. It noted the tight deadlines for the completion of the track, owing to delays in planning and upgrades, plus constraints on carrying out the work until early October as the Fiera del Riso (risotto festival) was taking place at the same venue.

The board concluded the information was “insufficient to justify maintaining the championship”.

“Athletes around the world, as well as national federations have been preparing for this championship, and we are extremely conscious of the impact the cancellation will have on their plans,” said Mr De Vos.

“However, previous experiences have taught us that there is no room for compromise when it comes to athlete and horse welfare. We will now focus all our attention on finding a new host for the FEI Endurance World Championship.”

The bid process will reopen on Monday (12 September). Qualifications will remain valid and the nominated entries will reopen with an extended qualification window.

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Forty British riders, officials and trainers have written an open letter to the FEI to raise concerns about new rules that require riders to complete two additional CEI3* (160km) rides in order to qualify for next year’s championships. H&H finds out more...

Concerns surrounding horse welfare in endurance and qualification for the World Championships have been raised as new rules come into play.

On 23 June the FEI announced the 2020 endurance World Championships, due to be held in Pisa, Italy, in September, would be postponed until May 2021 owing to the pandemic. This meant two endurance championships would take place next year, with the Europeans in the Netherlands scheduled for September 2021. New rules came into force on 1 July, including amended qualifying criteria for both championships, requiring riders to complete two additional CEI3* (160km) rides.

In an open letter on 6 July to the FEI, signed by 40 British riders, officials and trainers, it was said the new rules are “not conducive” to improving equine welfare, and will make it prohibitive for nations where endurance is not a professional sport to qualify a team for the championships.

Rider Harry Ingram, who coordinated the letter, told H&H Covid-19 meant there had not been enough time to gain the necessary qualifications and said there is a question as to whether the new criteria is in the best interest of horses’ welfare.

“A short-term solution would be for the FEI to reconsider the qualifying criteria for next year and base it on the previous rules; one 160km ride,” he said.

“We support a lot of what the endurance temporary committee is doing but we don’t see the benefit of the new qualification criteria.”

H&H endurance blogger Annie Joppe, who signed the letter, told H&H she believes the new rules are going to have the “opposite effect” on improving welfare, and make qualifying difficult.

“If someone doesn’t listen it’s going to go so wrong,” she said. “Only the countries with lots of money will have enough horses to go to the World Championships. It won’t be a World Championships if only five countries attend.”

Endurance GB (EGB) chairman Phil Nunnerley told H&H the signatory group had not requested support from EGB on the letter. He said EGB had held a consultation with its members on the new rules and the organisation was “broadly very supportive” of them. He added EGB is in talks with the FEI on hosting a qualifying ride this year.

“We made it clear to the FEI that we hoped it would continue to recognise qualification for the World Championships would be difficult and that they might consider extending the qualifications to be based on the pre-1 July rules,” he said.

An FEI spokesman told H&H the organisation had “taken note” of the concerns raised in the open letter. He added decisions relating to the new rules and qualification period were taken by the FEI board at its extraordinary meeting on 19 June, where it was agreed to prolong the qualification period.

“There will be further discussions on the qualification criteria for the World Championships at the board meeting on 21 July and more information will be provided,” he said.

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The 2020 Endurance World Championships have been postponed owing to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on equestrian sport.

In a statement yesterday (23 June) it was announced the championships, due to take place from 3-6 September at San Rossore, Pisa, Italy, are postponed until May 2021 following agreement between the FEI, the Italian national federation and the organisers.

A spokesman for the FEI said the pandemic and associated restrictions on both travel and training of horses meant it was “simply not possible” to maintain the original date.

The FEI board has agreed to prolong the qualification period for the championships to allow more time for horses and athletes to qualify, following the disruption to this year’s calendar caused by the pandemic.

Two continental endurance championships are scheduled to run in 2021; the Pan American Championships for senior and young riders in Campinas, Brazil, (28-29 July) and the European Championships in Ermelo, the Netherlands, (6-11 September)

The statement added the FEI last week contacted all 51 national federations that compete in the sport to understand their views on the proposed postponement of the World Championships and the potential impact on next year’s calendar.

The federations were asked whether they were in favour of the postponement, and if they would also participate in the continental championships if the World Championships were moved to 2021. Of 34 federations that responded to the questionnaire, 33 were in favour, of the postponement and their participation, where relevant, in one of the continental championships next year.

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FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez said: “Our endurance community made it very clear that they want a World Championships, particularly after losing the last edition at Tryon, USA, in 2018, but horse welfare and a level playing field could not have been guaranteed if the championships had run in September, so it was the best solution to move the championships to May next year.

“Having consulted with the national federations we feel we have reached a compromise that works for everyone, but especially for our horses, as there will now be time for them to do the necessary preparation work and achieve their qualification for this major event.”

The future of the endurance World Championships for young horses and the European Championships for young riders and juniors, due to be held in Vic, Spain, (25-27 September) is being discussed by the FEI board this week during a three-day meeting (23-25 June).

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This year’s FEI World Endurance Championships will take place in Slovakia after the event was stripped from Dubai.

Three applications to hold the event were received when the bid process was reopened in April, following the FEI’s decision to reallocate the championships.

The decision was made on Tuesday (14 June) by the FEI.

Fontainebleau in France and San Rossore in Italy were the other two candidates, but the FEI bureau ruled neither was suitable owing to health and safety concerns.

The event will be held at Samorin Equestrian Centre on 15-18 September, with the qualification period finishing on 16 July.

FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez said the organisation was “very happy” to receive three bids and “appreciates the willingness to support the FEI at such short notice.”

“The bureau had no hesitation in opting for Samorin,” she said.

“Horse welfare has to be the most important element in the allocation of these major events and Samorin has a proven track record — having already run both the young horse and European Endurance Championships very successfully.”

She added the timing of the event is also important.

“Both Fontainebleau and San Rossore were proposing mid-October when the reduced daylight hours could potentially have an impact on safety,” she said.

“Safeguarding the safety and welfare of the equine and human athletes is our top priority in all our disciplines.”

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Dubai controversy

The championships were due to be held in Dubai International Endurance City (DIEC) on 10-17 December.

However, the FEI decided in April to move the event as it felt the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) national federation was not in a position to “guarantee horses’ welfare would be fully protected”.

The decision was part of the FEI’s ongoing battle to crack down on rule-breaking and improve the welfare of horses taking part in endurance competitions in the UAE.

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The FEI has removed the World Endurance Championships from Sheikh Mohammed’s Dubai International Endurance City (DIEC) and stated that no more FEI events of any type will be sanctioned in Dubai until further notice.

This is the latest development in the FEI’s ongoing battle to crack down on rule breaking and improve the welfare of horses taking part in desert endurance competitions in the UAE.

The decision was widely anticipated following the disaffiliation of the World Endurance Championships test event, The Crown Prince Dubai Cup on 19 March. The ride took place under national rules after a request from FEI endurance director Manuel Bandeira De Mello to set the final loop heart rate at 56bpm, intended to slow horses down, was ignored.

A FEI spokesman said: “Despite the hard work and progress to date, the FEI Bureau is of the opinion that the UAE federation is not currently in a position to guarantee that horse welfare would be fully protected at an FEI World Endurance Championship.”

The other emirates which make up the UAE are unaffected by the FEI’s announcement. These include Abu Dhabi where Sheikh Sultan Al Nayhan has successfully pioneered reforms to improve horse welfare at Bou Thieb.

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Federations outside the UAE are now being invited to bid to host the world championships by 18 May and the new host venue is expected to be revealed on 14 June.

The event was originally due to take place in on 10-17 December, but could now be held in September or October instead. The qualifying period will also be adjusted to take this into account.

The FEI also stated that “rule breaches are absolutely unacceptable” and said it intended to work even more closely with the UAE federation to ensure it fully implemented the FEI’s rules and regulations, as well as compliance with the July 2015 agreement to guarantee the welfare of horses taking part in both national and international events.

The UAE federation was suspended in an unprecedented move by the FEI last March after an investigation into “major horse welfare issues” and “non-compliance with FEI rules and regulations” in endurance.

The federation was reinstated four months later on the basis of a “legally binding agreement” designed to ensure that horse welfare would be “fully respected and that FEI rules will be stringently enforced”, however rule breaches and welfare concerns continue unabated.

For more on this story, see Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 14 April

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World Horse Welfare has been joined by major equestrian nations in applauding the FEI’s suspension of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), over the escalating crisis in desert endurance racing.

The charity’s Roly Owers hoped the FEI’s unprecedented move heralded the end of a “dark period”.

“In many ways this is a sad day,” he said. “However, the FEI’s drastic move to suspend the UAE federation is a reflection of the seriousness of the situation.

“We hope this action will be the end of a dark period in international endurance and demonstrate to all that the FEI Welfare Code of Conduct must be at the heart of international equestrian sport.

“The focus is now on the UAE to undergo a fundamental change in attitude.”

The FEI bureau took its “unanimous” decision last Thursday (12 March), also ordering an investigation into allegations, first exposed by H&H, that the UAE has been faking ride results for several years.

The UAE is suspended for an “indeterminate” period and is not permitted to organise any FEI competitions or attend FEI-related events. UAE endurance riders are grounded, other than for national rides.

Riders from other disciplines may compete internationally, but under the neutral FEI flag.

Ingmar de Vos, FEI president, said that “any potential” reinstatement depended on the UAE agreeing to uphold horse welfare and comply fully with FEI rules and regulations.

“We were confident that strict enforcement of the new rules implemented on 1 August 2014 would be effective, but regretfully this has not been the case,” said Mr de Vos.

“There have been other major non-compliance issues, so in the end we had no other choice than taking this drastic measure to deal with an unacceptable situation.”

Germany, Switzerland and the US have publicly backed the move, with the American Endurance Ride Conference also calling for Dubai to be stripped of the 2016 World Championships.

The significance of the suspension is not yet fully understood by UAE riders.

There was one horse fatality during a CEN (national ride) at Bou Thib on Saturday (14 March) and eye-witness reports of two during the previous day’s desert triathlon.

The UAE ladies’ endurance team travelled to Bahrain, unaware they could not compete.

The FEI said it will contact every UAE rider to explain the situation.

Showjumper Abdullah Al Marri told Sport 360 that riding under the FEI flag was a “slap in the face”.

A Facebook campaign for the UAE’s reinstatement is being supported by endurance producers — of horses and equipment — who sell regularly to the UAE.

Meanwhile, at least 13 “bogus” rides are set to be investigated by Quest, former Metropolitan Police Chief Lord Stevens’ integrity services agency.

Volunteer researchers, all experienced endurance riders, have found data of the suspect rides embedded in the results of earlier rides.

The odds of average speed and loop times for as few as 40 starters being repeated exactly on a single occasion are impossible to calculate.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 19 March 2015

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In a bizarre twist to the endurance “ringer” scandal, H&H has discovered that as the Marmoog horse swap was occurring at the Euston Park world championships in 2012, investigators were already on site in connection with a separate switch.

The FEI’s Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU) visited the Suffolk venue to question people who might have evidence of a mid-ride horse swap at Numana, Italy, two months before.

But while the FEI recently announced that the Marmoog case had collapsed on a legal technicality, it declined to discuss Numana, referring H&H to the ECIU, who also declined to comment.

The two Marmoogs were competed by Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum junior. Now it has emerged that his brother, Sheikh Juma Dalmook [pictured above, number 33] was extensively photographed on two different chestnuts during separate loops at Numana. Pictures of “Pang” and his alleged substitute have been available on the website of photographer Cidihna Franzao.

The alleged Numana swap was reported to the FEI by David Holmes, former chief executive of British Dressage and sports director of the Italian Equestrian Federation at the time.

“I went to Numana the following morning to check on the Italian horses,” said Mr Holmes.

“Several people told me there had been a swap, so I called Ian Williams [head of FEI endurance at the time] and he said he would tell Quest [who service the ECIU].

“I was certainly surprised when we heard no more.”

The Euston Park and Numana organising committees both contained a large number of Maktoum employees.

The FEI recently introduced measures to combat horse identification fraud and conflict of interest among officials. At the FEI General Assembly last month, the UAE delegate Dr Hallvard Sommerseth, unsuccessfully requested “relief” from the latter.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 15 January 2015

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The FEI is to review its horse identification processes and procedures for lodging complaints as part of a legal overhaul, following the collapse of the Marmoog horse-swapping allegations on a technicality.

In 2012, two different-looking Marmoogs were competed for the UAE by Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai, in endurance rides at Numana, Italy, and at the world championships at Euston Park.

But although the FEI admits that it heard rumours at the time, it only relaunched an investigation when pictures uncovered by H&H contributor Pippa Cuckson were handed to the FEI in March this year (news, 27 March).

The FEI said: “It has become clear that, under the rules applicable at the time of the incident in 2012, essential deadlines were missed. Without legal proceedings being initiated within the specified timelines and through the correct channels, the FEI is unable to proceed with the case.”

“It is very disappointing that it took such a long time to come to this conclusion,” FEI secretary-general Ingmar De Vos added. “But this thorough investigation has allowed us to identify some loopholes in our own procedures with regard to the identification of horses through microchips and documents such as FEI passports, recognition cards and duplicates.”

At Euston, a white-faced Marmoog passed official identity checks using documentation issued to a snip-faced Marmoog. The chestnut at Numana is understood to be the “real” Marmoog, a French-bred previously called Prince De La Sabliere.

He was then renamed JSAS days after the investigation was revived, and was also found to have competed in the UAE in February this year with a different microchip ID.

The Marmoog case seems to have fallen foul of a tight, 30-minute deadline for lodging complaints.

The FEI told H&H the deadline will be reviewed, although the German federation is understood to be attempting to fast-track improvements at the FEI General Assembly in Baku this week (11-14 December).

H&H had already played a major role in highlighting these anomalies. When former editor Lucy Higginson and Pippa Cuckson successfully protested about horse abuse at the CEI Sakhir, Bahrain, their representations discussed the impracticality of the 30-minute deadline for endurance, where the field of play spans 160k and there is minimal chance of the ground jury witnessing offences in person.

The 2012 Numana and Euston CEIs were both managed by Maktoum-owned companies. The FEI statement noted that evidence about Marmoog was inconclusive, yet failed to explain why the CEIs, respective websites still carry prominent pictures of Hamdan on the two different Marmoogs.

The Swiss and Dutch federations said they both “regretted” the FEI had been forced to come to this decision despite “alarming facts concerning the identity of the horse.”

Ref: Horse & Hound; 11 December 2014

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Attempts by the FEI to draw a line under the death of a Maktoum-owned endurance horse at Compiègne in May have been thwarted by the sensational claim that samples covertly taken by officiating vets tested positive.

The FEI said L’Eremita di Gallura tested “clean” during post mortem — after accounting for medications given in attempts to save the horse’s life. But four French vets claim a leading French laboratory detected one unaccounted-for substance.

L’Eremita di Gallura was purchased from Italy two weeks before Compiègne, shipped to Newmarket and then to France. At the finish, the horse collapsed with neurological symptoms, and died in a clinic. The FEI announced the cause of death was inconclusive, but ever since lobby groups have demanded sight of the fuller autopsy.

The FEI spokesman told H&H that the post mortem was confidential and that the covert samples were flawed. She said; “Several days after the death, due to an apparent miscommunication, very poor quality samples were collected. The relevant French laboratory advised the testing they had undertaken was not at all comparable to regulatory testing. Due to poor cadaver storage and the very poor chain of custody, such results would not be of use.”

However, a spokesman for the vets said their samples were refrigerated while the official ones “travelled to Newmarket in someone’s pocket”.

The FEI declined to comment on whether the vets — Agnes Benamou-Smith, Christophe Pelissier, Antoine Seguin and Pierre Romantzoff — faced sanctions but added; “A review of many aspects of Compiègne was undertaken and one conclusion was the need to issue guidance to officials on the correct procedure for the collection of samples after a death or a catastrophic injury or in the event a horse has to leave a venue for further treatment.

This news story was first published in H&H magazine on 18 September 2014

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As H&H magazine went to press, the FEI announced that a protest brought by former H&H editor Lucy Higginson and H&H contributor Pippa Cuckson (pictured) against the FEI for a ground jury’s handling of a horse abuse case in endurance has been successful.

The pair protested that the yellow card awarded to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa was an insufficient penalty for the abuse of his winning horse in the King’s Cup 120km endurance race at Sakhir, Bahrain earlier this year (8 February). The FEI Tribunal upheld the protest and ruled he should be disqualified.

Videos from the race caused an outcry on social media. The clips showed a groom leaping out of a following vehicle and beating the horse several times (news, 13 February). A second clip showed the rider lashing the horse with exceptionally long reins, against FEI rules.

After the video went viral the FEI reported that the Sheikh had been handed a yellow card for “abuse of the horse”.

This ruling could have large ramifications for the FEI’s yellow card procedure as it has overruled the ground-jury with the benefit of “hindsight”.

In May, the same rider received a further yellow card for abuse and was automatically suspended for two months.

This news story was first published in H&H magazine on 18 September 2014

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Tamper-proof GPS units on horse and rider are among unprecedented surveillance measures in place at today’s endurance ride in Sartilly (Thursday 28 August) as the FEI strives to avoid a scandal-free Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).

FEI vice-president John McEwen outlined the level of scrutiny in a letter to national federations, urging them to circulate it to riders and officials, and stressing that: “the eyes of the world are upon us”.

Earlier this year Princess Haya handed over responsibility for endurance to Mr McEwen, to prevent any “conflict of interest” questions as a result of her husband Sheikh Mohammed’s involvement in the sport.

Tougher new rules were applied from 1 August, following the FEI’s clean-up after controversy about doping, fatalities and cheating raged for over a year.

“Not only is it important that these rule changes are now in place, it is also critical to the future health of the discipline that there is greater awareness of the commitment to address the issues that endurance has faced, and our determination to overcome them,” said Mr McEwen.

Other surveillance measures at Sartilly include:

• Fixed and roving video surveillance at the vet gates, and in the cooling area and rest areas.
• All video recordings will be in high definition, recorded continuously and with the capability to produce individual, HD and colour pictures.
• An approved FEI timing system to send horses to vet lanes in strict order of arrival, removing any perceived conflict of interest as horses will be automatically diverted away from own-nation officials.
• Additional FEI officials, in excess of those required by the rules.
• More dope testing and a pre-event testing facility.

The French Arab Horse association, L’ACA, has spoken out about the negative impact the endurance scandals have had on the breeding of Arabian horses — France sells many into the Middle East endurance community. The association has started a campaign called “Doping is Killing”, and will be selling posters and bumper stickers on its trade stand at WEG.

First published in H&H magazine 28 August 2014

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Competitors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) dominated the FEI Longines World Endurance Championships at Euston Park, Suffolk on Saturday (25 August), taking team gold and all three individual medals.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Madji du Pont (pictured) claimed the individual title, with an average speed of 22.82km/h.

Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum rode Yamamah into silver medal position, while Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri and Vendaval claimed individual bronze.

The UAE finished a full two hours ahead of the team silver medallists, France. Oman took team bronze.

A total of 147 horse and rider combinations from 38 countries took part in the competition, which took place over a 160km course on the Duke of Grafton’s estate. The testing course took in surrounding farmland, forest tracks and grassland.

Spain’s Maria Alvarez Ponton was attempting to match the record – set by America’s Becky Hart – of winning three successive world titles. She was riding the legendary Nobby, with whom she has won two World and one European championships. The 14.2hh veteran is now 17 years old.

But the popular pair had to settle for fourth place.

A powerful thunderstorm in the early evening – when some of the slower combinations were still on the course – forced organisers to reduce the distance, allowing those riders to finish at the penultimate vet gate.

Don’t miss our full report, including details of how the British riders got on, in this week’s magazine, on sale Thursday 30 August, 2012

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Recent selection trial winner Alice Beet (Adara Sauveterre) heads the British shortlist for the Longines CEI*** World Endurance Championships at Euston Park, Suffolk (25 August).

The other riders are Beccy Broughton-Booker (Tawmarsh Muharram), Emma Finnie (Sha Ali), Tricia Hirst (Madjin Des Pins), Rachel Ingvaldson (Nazeeka), Nikki Malcolm (Khartoum With AK or LR Bold Greyson), Annette Masterson (El Sabio), Catriona Moon (Leila), Lesley-Ann Parker (Velvet Echo), Christine Yeoman (LM Crazy Girl or LR Bold Greyson) and her brother-in-law David Yeoman (Haszar).

The six-strong squad will be chosen after a final performance trial at Wolverhampton racecourse on Saturday (21 July).

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (19 July 2012)

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After months of uncertainty, France has been awarded individual gold for the FEI World Endurance Championship. Barbara Lissarague had originally finished in silver medal position behind Sheikh Hazza bin Sultan al Nahyan from United Arab Emirates in last January’s Championships, but the Court for the Arbitration of Sport (CAS) has decided to uphold the positive medication case against the Sheikh, casting Lissarague into poll position.

The Sheikh and his mount, Hachim, finished first in the World Championships, which took place in Dubai on Thursday, 27 January. However, a subsequent test on Hachim’s urine sample, revealed the presence of Methylprednisolone, an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid banned under FEI rules. The Sheikh was thus disqualified and the gold medal awarded to Lissarague.

But due to a procedural error, the medication tests on Hachim’s urine sample were found to be against standard FEI practice, which enables riders allegedly involved in doping cases to state their position and request a counter test. The Sheikh lodged an official protest against the Championships’ organising committee. The FEI Judicial Committee agreed there had been an error and decided that the urine test should be disregarded. Sheikh Hazza was declared the winner once more with Lissarague in second place and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum taking bronze.

But the Organising Committee of the 2005 World Endurance Championship, Barbara Lissarague and the Fédération Française d’Equitation (French Equestrian Federation) decided to appeal the Committee’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. On Friday it was announced that the appeal has been won.

FEI President HRH Doña Pilar de Borbón said: “I believe that the CAS decision is fair for equestrian sport. We are fighting hard for a clean sport, and have made tremendous efforts to put the federation’s anti-doping rules for horses in line with the WADA code. The doping of a horse is perfectly unacceptable as, contrary to a human athlete, the horse is not in a position to accept or refuse the treatment it receives.”

Sven Holmberg (SWE), Chairman of the FEI Task Force on Doping and Medication policy established at the end of 2004 added, “This decision is perfectly in line with the spirit of the Task Force recommendations. Regardless of formalities, the bottom-line of the case is that the horse indisputably tested positive and had to be disqualified to restore sports equity.”

The new official results of the FEI World Endurance Championship, held in Dubai on 27 January 2005 are the following:

Individual Classification

Gold: Barbara Lissarague (FRA) /Gorgeat

Silver: HH Sh Mohd bin Rashid Al Maktoum (UAE) / Nashmi

Bronze: HE Sh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan (UAE) / Mindari Aenzac

There is no change to the team medals.

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French rider Barbara Lissarague, together with the Organising Committee of the World Endurance Championship and the Fédération Française d’Equitation, has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the FEI’s decision to uphold Sheikh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the winner of the World Endurance Championship.

Lissarague finished second behind Sheikh Hazza at the championship, which took place in Dubai on 27 January, but the organising committee awarded her the gold medal at the award ceremony two days later, after claims that the Sheikh’s horse, Hachim, had tested positive for a banned substance.

This unprecedented decision violated the FEI rules, which only strip riders of their medal if they are found guilty by the FEI Judicial Committee at the end of a lengthy process where they have a chance to state their position and request a counter-test. The FEI immediately clarified that the official committee did not have the right to disqualify Sheikh Hazza and upheld the official results signed off by the ground jury, which saw the Sheikh as the championship winner.

Following this Sheikh Hazza asked for a counter test, which was carried out at the Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques, in France, on 24 March 2005 and confirmed the presence of Methylprednisolone in Hachim’s urine. However, the Sheikh, who had specifically asked to either be present or have a representative at the lab, was not told of where and when the test would take place and so was unable to send a witness. As a result of this irregularity, the FEI’s Judicial Committee decided that his rights had been compromised to such an extent that “the results of the B-sample analysis, and therefore the entire urine test, should be disregarded.”

Their ruling, which was based on prior verdicts by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, dismissed the medication case against Sheikh Hazza and confirmed him as the winner of the FEI World Endurance Championship, with Lissarague as a runner up and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in third place.

On Monday 30 May, Lissarague, her federation and the Dubai organising committee notified the FEI of their decision to lodge a joint appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The matter will now be judged by a panel of three arbitrators, one of whom will be appointed by the appellants, another by the FEI, while the third, who will preside the panel, will be chosen directly by the President of CAS’ Appeals Division. The FEI will have to file a response to the appeal, after which the President of the Panel will arrange a hearing, where witnesses and experts will have their say.

“We will wait for the Court to give us a date for the hearing,” says FEI spokeswoman Muriel Faienza. “Once we have a date, we will publish it, but it may take some time. In the [Ludger] Beerbaum case, it took them two months.”

Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee and the Beijing Olympics Organising Committee are looking into the venue for the equestrian Olympics of 2008. Earlier in the year, the Beijing organising committee admitted having underestimated the veterinary issue of temporarily importing competition horses into China and proposed Hong Kong as an alternative venue for the equestrian events.

“That equine diseases exist in [China] is a fact. If we don’t welcome other places hosting the event, we will be taking a very big risk,” executive member of the IOC and Chinese Olympic Committee vice-chairman, Yu Zaiqing told The Standard, a Hong Kong-based business newspaper, last Wednesday. However, both national federations and riders associations have said they would strongly prefer the equestrian events to remain in Beijing.

The FEI Executive Board, which met on Wednesday, “reiterated the importance of concentrating all efforts” to ensure the equestrian Olympics are staged in Beijing. “We are all resolutely behind keeping our sport at the heart of the Beijing Olympics,” said FEI President, The Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón. “The IOC and BOCOG have received comprehensive documentation to support our position. They are now studying our case and we sincerely hope, and will continue to work hard, for a positive outcome. We expect a decision will be finally made by the beginning of July.”

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