FEI celebrates clean London 2012 equestrian games

All human and equine samples taken at the London 2012 equestrian competitions have tested negative, the FEI has revealed.

More human and equine tests took place at London 2012 than at any previous Games, with the top four riders and horses being tested from every class. Further random tests were chosen by computerised selection.

FEI President HRH Princess Haya said: “These were the most tested Games ever and we also tested for more substances than ever before.

“We worked hand-in-hand with the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory in Newmarket and thank them for the speed with which they processed all the samples so that we could maintain a level playing field throughout the Games.

“Now that we’ve had three major championships that were the most heavily tested ever and they were 100% clean, we can hold our heads up high and say that yes, this is a victory.”

The news comes as a great triumph to the equestrian community, after doping scandals at the previous two Games, Athens and Beijing.

Ingmar de Vos, FEI Secretary General, said: “Today’s news demonstrates the resounding success of the FEI Clean Sport campaign, which has been fully embraced by the international equestrian community. The International Paralympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency have also gone to great lengths to ensure a clean Games.”

For more information on the FEI’s Clean Sport campaign, head to www.feicleansport.org

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now